108 NATIVE FLOWERS OF VICTORIA. 
of bush-Hke form. Later, as the plant reaches shrub 
or tree form its growths become stronger, and almost 
invariably the spines are absent on the flowering 
growths. 
The mountain pepper, Drimys aromatica, is a 
shrub with insignificant flowers, and bright shining 
leaves. The berry clusters are very decorative, 
being glossy black. A distinctive feature is the 
red colouring on the leaf-stems and the veins of the 
leaves, particularly in winter. The foliage is 
aromatic, and when tasted, is quite hot and pungent. 
This wo\ild be a fine plant for shrubberies. The 
pepper is foxind in the mountains and the moister and 
cooler parts of the State, and extends to Tasmania. 
A closely-related plant is the ‘ ‘ Bolwarra, ” or 
Eupomatia laurina. This is found only in the moist 
glens and in the river jungles in East Gippsland. 
This shrub has a semi-climbing habit, assuming 
strong growth only with age. It has large dark- 
green shining leaves which, in the young stage, are 
brightly copper coloured, forming a strong contrast 
to the older foliage. The flowers are very similar 
to those of the double tuberose and, in fact, if dis- 
associated from the foliage, would easily be mistaken 
for those, having however only a slight fragrance. 
The fruit is very like a small fig, not quite an inch in 
length, and quite edible and sweet. This is one of 
our most distinctive and decorative of plants, and 
well worthy of a place in any shrubbery, or as a lawn 
specimen. 
The “sassafras,” Atherosperma moschata, still 
closely related to the pepper, is found in the cooler 
