Notes on the Flora around Adelaide. 
Lofty and its spurs. This tree does not form a close canopy. The 
undergrowth in the more sheltered places is often Pteridium 
aquilinum. Large areas, however, have a covering of many species 
of shrubs much as above. In certain areas Ixodia achilloides, a 
composite shrub, some 70-100 cms. high, is the dominant under¬ 
growth. It has sticky decurrent leaves and corymbs of white 
flowers. A second species of Xanthorrhcea (X. semiplanata) also 
occurs in this region, with great frequency in certain places. It 
does not form an aerial trunk and commonly reproduces by 
adventitious budding. It is noticeable that this species only flowers 
at all freely after a fire has swept over the spot. Then it is a 
remarkable sight to see hundreds of tall erect spikes some 2 to 3 
metres high, the upper half covered with white blooms. 
It is impossible within the limits of a short sketch to do more 
than indicate the more important forms of vegetation and a few of 
the species composing them. There are certain points in connection 
with the plants mentioned that call for special notice. 
Leaf Form. 
The majority of the leaves are hard and tough exhibiting the 
usual characteristics of evergreen leaves. While some plants, e.g., 
species of the Proteaceous genera Hakea, Isopogon, Banksia, have 
markedly xerophytic leaves with thick cuticle, sunken stomata, and 
reduced leaf surface, others frequently occurring in the same locality 
have leaves of a less coriacious texture. Such are the leaves of 
Bursaria, Myoporum, Ixodia, Dodoncea. These leaves, however, 
are frequently sticky and have many sub-epidermal glands. 
There is a remarkable similarity of leaf-form between plants 
of widely separated families. The more striking are the pendant 
sickle-shaped leaves of the Eucalypts and of Acacia spp. (e.g., A. 
pycnantlia). Leaves of this form are obviously “adapted” to 
conditions of great insolation. They are also suited to windy 
conditions, and no one can fail to observe how rare is a perfectly 
still day. 
Obovate to oblong leaves with entire margins are produced by 
Dodoncea spp., Hakea spp., Bursaria, Acacia, Pultenea, Viminaria, 
etc., and are strikingly similar in form. Such leaves are frequently 
placed erect upon the branches so as to expose their edges to the 
light. 
The majority of the leaves on the low-growing shrubs are 
ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, rigid, with acute points and 
