266 NOTES ON SOME PORT JACKSON PLANTS, 



name var. minor for its small-leaved forms. At the same time, 

 we have every gradation between the variety and the normal form. 



We would point out that var. minor never grows in swamps, 

 just as typical latifolia never grows on dry ridges, where its var. 

 minor abounds. It may therefore be that the difference of 

 environment may be largely responsible for the differences 

 between the normal species and its variety. 



The variety minor is usually between 3 and 4 feet in height 

 and less frequently it is up to 6 or 7 feet, but exceptionally up 

 to 12 feet in height. 



As regards the leaves of the variety, we have them as small as 

 2 inches long by half an inch broad (and incidentally it may be 

 mentioned that the leaves of B. latifolia are up to 10 inches and 

 more long). The small-leaved forms are as a I'ule more entire 

 (sometimes they are as entire as B. integrifolia usually is and 

 this assists in the confusion of this species with the variety now 

 under discussion). Another chai'acter, also not an absolutely 

 constant one, but often a useful guide, is that the under surface 

 of the midrib of B. latifolia var. minor is very often clothed with 

 a dense covering of reddish-brown hairs. 



The fruits and seed, together with the sucker-growth, prove 

 that our variety is entirely distinct from B. integrifolia. 



To a less extent the same is true in regard to B. margin ata. 

 Its dissepiments and seeds are distinctly different from those of 

 B. latifolia var. minor, not to mention other differences. At the 

 same time the two plants have to our knowledge been frequently 

 confused. 



The sucker-gi-owth of var. minor is also quite distinct from 

 both that of B. integrifolia and B. marginata, as is also the young 

 growth. 



We have seen a specimen (absolutely matching one of our 

 specimens of var. minor) in Allan Cunningham's handwriting in 

 the Melbourne Herbarium labelled Banksia paludosa, R.Br. It 

 is not the true B. paludosa, but not unlike it in general appear- 

 ance, particularly in the long cylindrical spike as figured in But. 

 Reg. t. 697, under B. jmlndosa. 



