14 NATIVE FLOWERS OP VICTORIA. 
CHAPTER I. 
The Native Flora of Victoria. 
T he native flora of Victoria, like that of the rest 
of Australia, is of more than ordinary interest 
on account of the fact that the major portion 
of it is strictly Australian — that is, it does not occur 
anywhere else. The geographical distribution of 
these plants shows that at one time Victoria and Tas- 
mania were not separated by Bass Strait, a fact 
generally conceded by geographers; and plants iden- 
tical or closely related with those of Victoria are to 
be found both in New Zealand and South America. 
Even so we have many exclusive species, and it is 
very interesting to note that most of these uncommon 
plants are worthy of more than ordinary notice, both 
to the botanist and the horticulturist. 
Their hardy character is worthy of special notice, 
and should commend them to growers. When the 
climatic extremes and conditions of Victoria are con- 
sidered; when, judged by the older-world standard, 
our soils are poor and infertile, lacking in two very 
essential plant foods, phosporic acid and potash; 
when the average shallowness of the surface soil is 
considered, and yet, when, with all these drawbacks, 
we consider the luxuriant vegetation to be met with 
everywhere, the only conclusion that we can come to 
is that our native flora is one of the hardiest in the 
world. Further, the vegetation is just as luxuriant 
