186 ON A EUCALTPT HYBRID, 



The filaments do not contrast with the whitish anthers for 

 the pollen-masses are scarlet too. 



The calvx-tubes are suffused with scarlet, and so the whole 

 inflorescence is of a uniform tone of colour. 



Dr. Prior's No. 2 is a shrub at present: it is the E. fici/olia 

 alba of nurserymen: it has white filaments, with a suspicion of 

 colour at the base, arising from the coloured rim. Calyx-tube 

 green. A little colour on the operculum. 



In E. cahphylla R.Br., the filaments are white or creamy, and 

 I saw the trees in flower over large areas in their native habitats. 

 Mr. W. V. Ftzgerald states that the filaments are " rarely 

 pink " ; this indicates a tendency. 



The muddle that Mueller got into as regards the filaments of 

 E.^ficifolia is continued by the nurserymen. Largi numbers of 

 plants are sold; indeed, the demand exceeds the supply. I need 

 scarcely observe that precision is desirable, and sometimes neces- 

 sary, in speaking of the colours of flowers; the following is a 

 useful work of reference. " Repertoire de Couleurs (quoted as 

 Rep. de Couleurs) public par la Societe Francaise des Chrysan- 

 themistes," ifcc. (Rennes and Paris, 1905). Two portfolios of 

 plates and a handbook. i 



In Vilniorin's (Paris) Catologue of Plants, the colour of the 

 flowers of E ficifolia is given as "rouge carmin," which is not a 

 colour admitted, as such, into Rep. de Couleurs. The firm is 

 evidently following the late M. Naudin, a great French authority 

 on the genus, wiio, Mem. Eucal., i., 555, says - "i/. ficifolia qui 

 les a d'un rouge carmin tres brillant, au moins dans une de ses 

 varietes." 



In examining the catalogues of good Australian firms, I find 

 the following given under E. ficifolia. 



1. " Red-flowering Gum," 20 feet. This colour may mean any. 

 thing. 



2. Scarlet, 15 feet; "Scarlet-flowering Gum" 15 feet. Scarlet 

 is cori'ect. 



3. Crimson, 20 feet; Crimson-flowered Gum, 20 feet; " Bright 

 Crimson "" 15-20 feet. This may or may not be a confusion with 



