566 



THE EUCALYPTS OF PARRAMATTA, 



and April. E . globulus, cultivated, flowers generally in June 

 and July, and E. citriodora, cultivated, in June. The latter 

 grows exceedingly well, better than about Sydney, though the 

 frosts may cut it up when young. 



Though the Eucalypts, what with one species and another, 

 may be found in flower every month of the year, yet their 

 near relatives, the Angophoras, all bloom in the summer 

 about the same time. .4. lanceolatu leads off early in Decem- 

 ber, then come A. intertnedia and A. ftubvelutina in the 

 middle of that month, and lastly A . cordifolia early in Janu- 

 ary. 



In considering the question of hybridisation between Euca- 

 lypts, full consideration should always be given to the time 

 of the year at which they flower. Thus, crossing of E. 

 robusta, which blooms in winter, with E. hemiphloia, which 

 is out in summer, would be impossible, though there is a 

 chance of such crossing occurring between E. tei-eticornis 

 and E. paniculata, or E. saligna and E. acm.enioides. But 

 the mere fact of two species growing together and flowering 

 at the same time, yet maintaining constant and specific 

 characteristics over a great range, points to the conclusion 

 that hybridisation is most unlikely or impossible between 

 them. In fact, I think the law may be laid down, that 

 natural hybridisation is unlikely to occur between two species 

 growing freely together and flowering at the same time. The 

 mere fact of these species keeping pure, favours this view. 

 Experience with the Acacias bears out this. These, in the 

 majority of instances, flower in the early spring, and mostlv 

 at the same time; yet the species keep distinct. The most 

 reliable instances of hybridisation of Acacias, so far recorded, 

 are those between A. Bailey ana and A. decurrens, A. dealbata 

 and .4 . podalyriaffolia, and A . pycnantha and A . podalyri/p- 

 fnlia, the parents in each case occurring in widely separated 

 localities. If I were attempting to hybridise Eucalypts, I 

 should expect greater chances of success from two species 

 growing widely apart, as say from Western and Eastern Aus- 



