104 INFLUENCE OF BUSH FIRES ON DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES. 



The tall grass-tree (X. hastilis), reached the height of nearly eight 

 feet, and formed the most conspicuous object of the landscape. 

 The smaller one (X. minor), was about three feet in height, but 

 not so numerous as the larger one. Banksia aemula, (one of the 

 so-called native honey-suckles) represented B. ericifolia, but it 

 was not numerously distributed, the specimens being few and far 

 between. One or two specimens of Banksia latifolia with its large 

 beautifully coloured leaf, were found in a damp piece of ground, a 

 species not common in the neighbourhood of Sydney. It was the 

 flowers however, which reaped the greatest advantage from the 

 clearance made by the recent fire. Every square foot of ground 

 was occupied by them, and I collected more than a hundred species 

 during my three weeks visit. The beautiful Goodenias, with their 

 bright yellow flowers, were growing side by side with the lovely 

 blue Lobelias, and the pink Stylidias, interspersed with various 

 species of Orchids, and other wild flowers. Of the Goodenias I 

 collected five species, and probably there were more, G. bellidifolia, 

 ovata, hederacea, heteropkylla, and paniculala. According to 

 Bentham and Mueller, the Goodenias are restricted to Australia. 

 Growing freely among the Goodenias, and forming a beautiful 

 contrast by their rich blue flowers, were the Lobelias. Of these 

 I found three species, L. dentata, L. anceps, and L. simplicicaulis. 

 Stylidsea, which are very abundant in Western Australia, have 

 only a few representatives in New South Wales. Of these I found 

 two : Stylidium graminifoliuni, and S. laricifolium. According 

 to Bentham and Mueller this species is all but restricted to 

 Australia, one or two species being found in New Zealand and a 

 few in Central Asia. The genus Scaevola (which is largely a 

 Western Australian one) has seven species in New South Wales. 

 Of these I found one, S. hispida ; it is a herbaceous plant growing 

 to the height of eighteen inches occasionally, with dark blue or 

 purple flowers, It was very common, the soil suiting its 

 requirements in every way. Side by side was another common 

 blue flower, of lighter shade however, Dampiera stricta ; this 

 genus is restricted to Australia, it was named after the celebrated 

 navigator Dampier, who visited New Holland in the year 1688. 



Of the Proteacere there were a goodly number. Petrophila was 

 represented by P. pulcliella ; Comespermum was represented by 

 C. longifolium, and C. ericifolium ; Lamberta by L. formosa ; 

 Lomatia by L. longifolium, and L. silaifolia ; Banksia by 

 B. aemula, and B. latifolia; Persoonia by P. linearis, and P. 

 lanceolata. The genus Epacris was represented by six species, 

 and that of the Orchidete by fourteen species. There were a few 

 species of lilies, sedges, and grasses, with two species of ferns, 

 Pteris aquilina, Davallia dubia, in all one hundred and twenty 

 one, the names of which are arranged according to the " Flora 



