BY UEXRV D^AXE AND .). II. MAIDEN. 717 



Some fruits from Botany are almost hemispherical and 5-celled; 

 the}' are apparently a connecting link with E. stricta. We are of 

 opinion that it is not possible to discriminate between some forms 

 of stricta and ohtusifiora without fruits. 



Range. — In its typical form confined to the coast, and 

 apparently at no great distance from Port Jackson. 



E. VIRGATA, Sieb. 



The original description of E. viryata, 8ieb , (Cur. post. 195) is 

 as follows : — " E. operculo conico pedunculis 3-floris incrassatis 

 compressis rugosis erectiusculis foliis lanceolatis acuminatis 

 coriaceis subvenosis glabris." 



This was expanded Ijy De Candolle (Prod. iii. 217) into the 

 following words : — 



" Operculo conico cupulte longitudine, pedunculis axillaribus 

 lateralibus petiolo vix longioribus pedicellisque ancipitibus, foliis 

 oblongo-linearibus utrinque acuminatis crassiusculis coriaceis 

 subaveniis. Eolii petiolus i lin. longus, lamina 4-6 poll, longa 

 6-9 lin. lata. Umbelhe 5-6-flora5. Margo folii crassiusculus." 



It will thus be seen that Sieber had the temerity to describe 

 the species from foliage and buds only — a course fraught with 

 danger in the vast majority of species, as subsequent experience 

 has amply shown. This imperfect description has been the cause 

 of much trouble in later years. 



E. virgata is redescribed by Bentham (B.Fl. iii. 202) 

 "Chiefly from Oldfield's, Woolls's and F. Mueller's specimens. 

 Sieber's appear to be the same, but they are only in young bud, 

 and, therefore, uncertain. It difi'ers from both E. coriacea and 

 E. obliqua in the outer stamens bearing only abortive anthers, 

 and in that respect approaches E. hcemastoma, from which it 

 differs as well in foliage and in fruit, as in these imperfect stamens 

 being mucli fewer and rarely, if ever, quite without anthers." 



E. virgata was in 188-1: considered by Mueller (Decade 10, 

 Eiicalyptographia ) as a form of E, strictti. 



