May 9, 1950. 
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 
Page Thirteen 
( Grass-tree ) ; Hybanthus floribundus ; Epacris 
impressa ; Astroloma conostephioides; Lo- 
mandra juncea; Caladenia de for mis ; Piero- 
stylis nana; Diuris maculata; Logania 
recar va ; Pultenaea largiflorens ; Pultenaea 
daphnoides ; Pultenaea involucrata; Acacia 
my rti folia; Acacia pycnantha; Acacia rheti- 
nodes; Acacia armata ; Halorrhagis tetra- 
gyna (Rasp-wort); Cheilanthes ienuifolia 
(Carrot fern) ; Crassula species; Opercularia 
species (2); Sherardia arvensis (Field mad- 
der); Lepidosperma carphoides (Sedge); 
Bulbine bulbosa (Bulbine lily) ; Dichopogon 
stricius (Chocolate lily). 
K.W.T.D. 
OCT. 1.— NATIONAL PARK, BELAIR 
1.15 p.m. train to Belair. Mr. R. L. Specht 
(Adelaide University), leader. Twenty pre- 
sent. 
Before commencing our walk through Na- 
tional Park, our leader discussed the ecology 
of the area, the relationship between the 
existing vegetation and the soil,, and the fact 
that plants invariably grow in communities. 
The rainfall of the area is approx. 33 
inches. 
The trees are scattered and consist mainly 
of Blue Gum (Euc. leucoxylon) , Peppermint 
( Euc . odorata) . Underneath these a grass- 
land community exists. 
Osteospermum , a daisy-like shrub of South 
African origin, is becoming all too prevalent 
and though quite attractive is not welcome, 
as its luxurious growth is crowding out 
our natives. 
On reaching the first small creek the soil 
structure could be clearly observed, first a 
layer of grey soil of variable depth, below 
that clay, and again below that the parent 
rock from which our soil is formed. 
Continuing our walk a change takes place 
in the soil, as also in the vegetation — 
Pultenaea and Daviesia growing in profusion: 
Kangaroo and Wallaby grass, Briza major and 
minor, Liliaceous plants, oxalis, and intro- 
duced plants on the more fertile patches of 
soil. 
Going further in the direction of the 
Reserve, we find heat-loving plants coming 
and the grassland changing; trees remain the 
same. 
Further on are communities of Blue Gum, 
The soil now changes considerably, the 
ground covered with laterite pebbles, an iron- 
stone, really a fossil, soil of very low fer- 
tility. Our leader explained that a similar 
soil existed in the W. Aus. Jarrah country 
and in Central Aus. and in Darwin, where 
ironstone goes to a depth of 50-60 feet. 
We next walked into a virtual wildflower 
garden, a profusion of color: Hakea rigosa , 
H elichrysum Baxteri, T helimitra Macmillani, 
Glossea major, Tetrathaca, Chierantha, Dill- 
winia , Pultenaeas and Grevillias , were only 
some of the varieties there. 
Our leader explained that climatic changes 
had broken up the flora. 
South-Western Aus. still has large areas of 
extremely beautiful flora. South Aus. has 
allied species, smaller but very beautiful, 
nevertheless. 
Leptospermum was just commencing to 
flower; interesting specimens of Casuarina 
stricta with its elongated cones, and C. Mul- 
lein were also present, also Hibberlia scerisca. 
In the Reserve proper some beautiful clumps 
of Thelimytra antennifera, the scented yel- 
low orchid, were found, and a very fine speci- 
men of T helimitra grandiflora with 36 buds, 
about to open. Several varieties of Diuris 
were thriving and multiplying. Chierathea 
and Stackhousia were plentiful. We dis- 
covered quite a patch of Caladenia Menzii, the 
little bunny orchid, outside of the Reserve, 
and a few plants of Eutaxia micro phila with 
its sprawling branches full of blooms. 
The sedges were all very dry, indicating 
the season. 
Members enjoyed an interesting and in- 
structive afternoon, and appreciated Mr. 
Specht’s able leadership. 
A.E.B. 
OCT. 8, 1949.— OUTER HARBOR. 
(Leader: W. G. Buick) 
As the low tide was much earlier than the 
time set for the excursion, those who went 
to the harbor at the set time did not find 
very much. 
Those who went earlier had the advantage 
of a very good tide held back by the off- 
shore wind. We made for the mud flat 
straight out from the Royal Yacht Squadron. 
Here we found numerous living scallops — 
Equichlamys bifrons , and the razor shell— 
Pinna dolabrata. In colonies we found a few 
