Jan., 1923] 
CAMPBELL — AUSTRALASIAN BOTANICAL NOTES 
53 
of the interior. The highest point is about 4000 feet above sea level, and 
in places there are deep and abrupt gorges cut in the sandstone rocks; and 
these gorges, which are well watered, support a rich and beautiful flora and 
provide fine collecting ground for the botanist. 
In company with Dr. Lawson, I spent a couple of days at Wentworth 
Falls, in the immediate vicinity of one of the finest of the gorges. The 
plateau is covered with the usual open Eucalyptus forest with the accom¬ 
panying vegetation like that of the lower country; but, as Wentworth Falls 
is over 2000 feet above Sydney, many plants at this time (September 10) 
were not yet in full flower. 
Just above the gorge is a somewhat dry table land which has rather the 
aspect of an open moorland. The Eucalyptus trees were small and scat¬ 
tered, and most of the ground was covered with a thin chaparral-like scrub 
made up principally of Proteaceae of various kinds—Banksia, Hakea, 
Grevillea—and Leguminosae, including such showy genera as Pultenaea, 
with fine yellow flowers, blue Hardenbergias, scarlet Kennedyas, dwarf 
Acacias, and many others. Epacridaceae were also abundant, comprising 
species of Epacris, Styphelia, and Leucopogon, while several species of 
Leptospermum and a Melaleuca were the commonest of the Myrtaceae. 
Boronias were abundant, and the somewhat similar Tetratheca displayed 
its pretty pink flower in many places. A curious little violaceous flower, 
1 onidium filiforme, was seen for the first time, and the brilliant blue Lobelia 
gibbosa was noticed in a few places, while a Campanula-like Wahlenbergia 
was not uncommon. In the damper spots, little Droseras were found, but 
these were much better developed on the dripping rocks in the gorge. A very 
pretty little orchid ( Caladenia sp.) was seen, and an attractive liliaceous 
plant, Thysanotus tuberosus, with lavender-fringed petals, was common. 
A few specimens of Callitris Muelleri were the only conifers growing on 
the table land, but in the gorge, near one of the waterfalls, were seen several 
specimens of the extremely rare Pherosphaera Fitzgeraldi, small bushes 
looking something like a dwarf juniper. Several species of Casuarina are 
found in the neighborhood of Wentworth Falls, and one, C. nana, which 
was very common on the table land, was only a foot or so in height. 
An interesting but rare fern of the table land was Schizaea bifida , of 
which a few specimens were seen, growing in the barren, sandy soil. 
The descent to the bottom of the gorge was full of interest. Well-made 
trails lead in various directions, and, as the gorge is a state reserve, the 
vegetation has been preserved intact and furnishes the botanist an unspoiled 
sample of the flora of the region. 
The dryer slopes along the paths show much the same vegetation as the 
plateau above; but the sheltered and well-watered ravines and gullies 
exhibit a fairly tropical profusion of plant life. In many places water oozes 
out between the rock strata, and the dripping banks and cliffs harbor a 
wealth of curious and beautiful plants. 
