Typically Australian - fern trees in Cawood's Gully, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia

Typically Australian - fern trees in Cawood's Gully, Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia

Fern trees, Victoria

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1030

Cawood's Gully, Apollo Bay, is in Polwarth County, Victoria, between Cape Otway and Cape Patton, southwest of Melbourne. One of the coast ranges extends along the coast of this county. Northeast of Cape Otway the soil is very rich and supports a dense vegetation of large timber and underwood. The whole country is broken by a network of deep gullies and steep hills. The Eucalyptus mannifera secretes a peculiar substance called manna in the form of white flakes which are attached to the leaves or found among the leaves and fragments of bark lying on the ground. It exudes from the branches and falls in drops, forming small white flakes that resemble pieces of starch. It is sweet and mucilaginous and to some wholesome, while it acts as an aperient to others. The natives are very fond of it and collect it for food. Another peculiar form of vegetation is the grass-tree. The rugged stem grows to a height of from 2 to 12 feet and from its top springs a tuft of drooping wiry foliage, from the center of which rises a spike like a huge bulrush. In the winter when it flowers this spike becomes covered with white stars. A heath covered with grass-trees in bloom is a singular and beautiful sight. Acacias are nowhere else so abundant as in Australia. There are nearly 300 species and they are found in all parts of the country. Their beautiful yellow blossoms are usually fragrant and add greatly to the beauty of the country in early spring.

1 gelatine silver print stereograph (8 x 15 cm) mounted on card (9 x 18 cm)

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