11 
BOTANICAL NOTES 
By L. Rodway. C.M.G., Government Botanist 
The principal tree at Port Arthur, 
just as in any other part of Australia, 
is the ubiquitous Gum-tree. But the 
name Gum-tree covers a multitude ol 
forms, some common, some rare, and 
about our camp at Safety Cove, or 
rather at a comparatively short distance 
from it, were two forms of unusual in¬ 
terest. One of these grew on Brown 
Mountain. There it assumed the di¬ 
mensions of a shrub, while at Uxbridge 
it is a tall forest tree. The popular 
name I have heard applied to it is 
Heart-leaved Gum. At Uxbridge this 
and a robust form of Cider-Gum are 
called Yellow Gum. Unfortunately, our 
popular names are not well fixed, and, 
therefore, somewhat confusing. This 
Brown Mountain shrub crops up in 
many parts of Southern Tasmania, hut 
except at Uxbridge 1 have never known 
it grow into timber dimensions. Most 
eucalypts respond very readily to local 
conditions; some in matter of size, 
others in variability of structure. This 
tree is very constant in form, but, as al¬ 
ready stated, varies from a small shrub 
to a huge tree. 
Now, the other tree that I wish to 
refer to grows at the entrance 
to the port, and is peculiar for 
the variations of its forms and the 
change in shape of leaf due to local 
conditions. I have never met with this 
exact form from anywhere else, though 
there are closely related ones on Bruny 
and Muddy Plains. Seed obtained from a 
tree on Biruny, near the isthmus, pro¬ 
duced two strains of young, neither of 
which was like the parent. Saplings 
from seed borne by the Port Arthur 
form also were of two kinds They have 
not yet reached mature foliage, but 
some approach a common form of 
Risdon Gum, while others appear dis¬ 
tinct from any recorded form. This is 
doubtless a form of Risdon Gum com¬ 
monly also known as Blue Peppermint 
and Cabbage Gum. The variability of 
Risdon Gum, both from obscure eu- 
genio variability and response to edaphic 
conditions will supply a prolonged study 
for some student who can slowly ac¬ 
cumulate data. 
Two interesting Heaths grow near the 
Blowhole at the Heads, neither of which 
occurs anywhere near Hobart. They are 
Epaoris mvrtifolia, and Epacais 
heteronema. The former is so like the 
dwarf Tea Tree growing in the vicinity 
that a close scrutiny had to he made to 
distinguish between them when not in 
flower. This heath only occurs in the 
extreme south of Tasmania. The lat¬ 
ter is more common, and extends also 
to Australia. The Port Arthur plant 
is typical, with closely imbricate, erect, 
pungent pointed leaves, but on the west 
it varies considerably, and is destined 
in the future to be divided into many 
species. 
One orchid, Eriochilus autumnalis, 
was flowering freely, but amongst the 
lower groups there was not much col¬ 
lecting to he done. One moss, growing 
right on the boulders at the shore, 
appeal’s new. Ajso a Polysaecum, which 
is a fungus allied to Puffball, was 
gathered in quantity. A few under¬ 
ground species were collected, but only 
of oommon forms. 
Scene near the Camp. 
