BOTANICAL NOTES 
By L. RODWAY, C.M.G. 
Unlike previous Raster camps this was 
established at a sub-alpine altitude, ami 
the vegetation was of quite a different 
character. The gums were of species not 
found in the lowlands, namely, mountain 
peppermints, urn gum. and cider gum. 
Then the smaller plants were more of 
a Vest Coast character than typical of 
midland growth. The deciduous beech 
whose nearest relative grows only in the 
neighbourhood of Cape Horn, was met 
with in a few patches. Our Tasmanian 
conifers are vestiges of a by-gone flora, 
and are of the greatest interest to visit¬ 
ing botanists. .Vest of them are to be 
found in the National Park. The three 
forms of arthrolaxis, creeping' vine, and 
"Hooper’s pine, may be gathered here in 
quantity. 
Along the plains masses of a large, 
soft yellow moss till in all depressions 
where water lodges. It is Sphagnum 
subicolor, and is of much use to the 
gardener and to apple paekers. In the 
back blocks it may he used for stulling 
mattresses and pillows. Crass trees are 
abundant. This is as it should be a*, 
excepting Vilnius species which occurs 
on Mount Kosciusko, tin* genus i< con- 
lined to Tasmania. We have on the park 
all tin* members of the genus (Kicliea), 
except Milligan's Kicliea, and that tnav 
yet turn up. Visitors are always struck 
with the pi Miliar, hard, green cushions 
which are found on most of the plains. 
They look like moss, to which they are. 
not at all related, and though the. 
cushions are so similar, they are not all 
formed by the one species. Far from 
it, for the plainest, hardest cushions, 
though practically indistinguishable ex 
copt in flower, are formed by three 
dowering plants of very diverse families. 
Near hake Fenton the cushions are 
formed by a composite which possesses 
the awful name of Abrotanella forster- 
loides. The cushions on Wombat Moor 
arc mostly of Honatia Xovae-Zealandiae, 
a little plant nearly related to Trigger 
plant. The plains of Kiel 1 West, 
especially the extensive moor stretching 
away towards Mount Lord, bear 
cushions formed by Dracuphyllum mini¬ 
mum, which belongs to the heath family 
Several smaller plants assist in forming 
cushion*. Unfortunately none of them 
have proper names. Ptervgo pappus 
Law rencii is a pale sage colour, and runs 
over the darker green cushions, looking 
like a diseased patch; also a Mitrasacme. 
very similar to Donatia, may be inter¬ 
mingled with it. A line daisy-like aster 
grows all about which should repay 
cultivation, besides providing material 
for crossing. 
I he family of plants so conspicuous in 
South Africa and Australia, known as 
Proteas, from their very diverse foliage, 
is everywhere represented. The three 
most noticeable species are w aratah, with 
its crimson inflorescence; yellow bush, 
very common on Wombat Moor; and 
mountan rocket. This is a pretty little 
ander-alirub. with a head of little pink 
and white Mowers, erected on a long 
stalk above the leaves. 
Amongst the hundreds of interesting 
plants one more may he mentioned. Tu 
the lakes and in some of the water¬ 
courses there is a water plant growing 
in the mud whose leaves resemble the 
spines of the fretful porcupine. Tt is 
the quillwort, and closely allied to the 
plant in the northern hemisphere. 
