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NOTES ON THE GENUS FLINDERSIA (FAMILY RUT ACE AE). 

 By C. T. White^ F.L.S., Government Botanist of Queenslanil. 



The genus Flindersia was founded by K. Brown (Flinder's Voyage, ii., 1814, 

 p. 595) on Flindersia australis, the eoniraon "Crow's Ash" of (Queensland or 

 "Teak" of Northern New South Wales. 



The genus is preponderatingly Australian ; of the 18 species known only 

 3 are found outside Australia. All the Australian species are found in Queens- 

 land and 6 of them extend into New South Wales. The genus contains some 

 of the most important timbers of Eastern Australia, as "Crow's Ash" or "Teak" 

 (/''. au.ftndis). "Yellow Wood" (/<'. O.rleifana), "Nortli Queensland Maple" (/''. 

 Brayleyana), "Silk Wood" (/•'. Pimoiteliana), and "Silver Beech" or "Putt's 

 Pine" (F. acuminata). 



A monographic account of the genus by C. De Candolle api)eared in De 

 Candolle's Monographiae Plianerogaruin, i., pp. 7'28-735, and full accounts of 

 the Queensland and New South Wales species in F. M. Bailey's "Queensland 

 Flora," Pt. i., pp. 238-'243 and J. H. Maiden's "Forest Flora of New South 

 Wales," Vols, i-iii. 



There has been considerable confusion in regard to some of tlie tropical 

 sorts and the present paper is offered as a contribution tow-ards clearing up 

 some of these difficulties. As several new species have been described since the 

 publication of De Candolle's Monograph and several of the species named by 

 Bailey are liere reduced to earlier named species a revised list of species and 

 their varieties is given herewith. 



In regard to two of the species in (he following list, viz.: F. pubescens and 

 F. Strs.eleckiana, I am aware that they would be classed by nmny botanists as 

 varieties, if not actually only forms, o/ F. Schottia/na and /■'. maculosa respec- 

 tively, and I liad myself at first decided to class tliem as varieties; as, however, 

 they can botli l)e readily distinguished from tlieir nearest allies, I have left 

 them with full specific rank, esi)ecially as both are trees of economic importance, 

 the former for timber, shade and ornamental purposes and the latter for fodder 

 and, to a less extent, for timber and shade in inland parts. The general use of 

 botanical names for economic plants is becoming more and more common every 

 day among the general public ; varietal names are cumbersome and their ap- 

 jilication to economic |ilants except wliere unavoidable would in my opinion 

 seem unwise. 



