T. G. B. Osborn. 
i H 
observable cannot be attributed to this cause. Grass is almost 
entirely absent from the quartzite hills, which are covered by a 
scrub of many species of shrubby plants. Viewed from the plains 
the two types of vegetation are clearly distinguishable. The darker 
olivaceous green of the scrub shows in sharp contrast to the grass 
covered hills, which are green in the winter but brown in the 
summer. Where the two strata join a very striking appearance is 
to be noticed (PI. II, Fig. 1). 
Amongst the more important shrubs of the scrub are species 
of Hakea, Banksia and other Proteaceae, Acacia, Pultenea, Dillwynia 
and other Leguminosas, Styphelia and Epacris, Leptospermum and 
Calycothrix, Dodoncea, Cryptandra and others in bewildering variety. 
The general height of such shrubs is about a metre. The ground 
between them is frequently bare, hut many other low shrubby 
plants ( Grevillea lavandulacea, Pimelia spp., Hibbertia spp., Goodenia 
spp., Sccevola microcarpa, Tetratheca, etc.) occur. In addition are 
many annuals. These are largely liliaceous or orchidaceous plants 
in the spring months (August and September) later many 
Compositae (H did ivy sum, etc.) appear. 
The “ creeks ” draining the hills have cut deep “ gullies ” with 
precipitous sides in many places (PI. II, Fig. 2). In the clefts of 
the rocks Xanthorrcea quadrangulata occurs. This is an arborescent 
form of “ grass tree,” that may reach two metres to the crown of 
leaves and not infrequently branches. Its blackened trunks, owing 
to the burnt leaf-bases, present a grotesque appearance. Casuarina 
quadrivalvis is common along such faces though not confined to 
them. The lower reaches of the gullies, wherever there is a deposit 
of alluvial soil, are turned into market gardens, and the native flora 
destroyed. It must have been in such places that the dense 
thickets of Todea africana 1 occurred, but it is doubtful if any 
specimens remain wild about Adelaide at the present time. 
To the south-east of Adelaide is the Blackwood plateau, the 
general altitude of which approximates to the higher foothills. 
Much of this is covered with Eucalypts, with an undergrowth of 
Acacia pycnantha. In certain areas, however, the soil is very 
sandy (river sands). Here the vegetation becomes more markedly 
xerophytic and is composed largely of Lepidospevma spp., Casuarina 
stricta (a species growing about 1 metre high) and Hakea ulicina 
(PI. II, Fig. 3). 
Ascending the ranges the dominant tree becomes the stringy 
bark ( Eucalyptus obliqua ) which covers the greater part of Mount 
1 Schombergk, R., loc. cit., p. 213; quoted by Diels, loc. cit., p. 11. 
