BY J. J. FLETCHER AND C. T. MUSSON. 223 



shoot shown in the figure, split off a large piece at the back, on 

 which there was probably another shoot, situated on the right 

 of the base of the dead seedling-stem. At the back, just to the 

 left of the mark X on the photo, there is a longitudinal concavity, 

 showing the site of the missing shoot. The remains of the 

 original stem, now exhibiting signs of decay, indicate that it must 

 have been about 3 inches in diameter when it perished. The 

 taproot is well developed. One lateral root, with a branch, is 

 seen to the right. This can hardly be said to be incorporated. 

 At the back, there are four roots or indications of them, one of 

 which is incorporated, and one partially, while two others are 

 too low down. The development of the shoot present evidently 

 stimulated the growth of the tumour all round its base. The 

 rest seems to have come to a standstill after the death of the 

 seedling-stem. What strikes us about this specimen, is the 

 paucity of shoots: and that there is not such a satisfactory 

 arrangement of lateral roots, at about the same level, as is shown 

 in the specimen in PI. xxiv. The loss of the seedling-stem doubt- 

 less complicated matters, and makes the interpretation of this 

 incomplete specimen difficult. 



E. Bekriana is described as being sometimes a Mallee, 8-15 

 feet high, and sometimes a tree up to about 35 feet high. Our 

 four specimens seem to us to be more or less refractory cases, 

 whose root-system is not quite like that of the typical Mallees, 

 in respect of the main lateral roots advantageously situated for 

 incorporation in the encircling tumours. If either or both these 

 conditions occur often, such may be responsible for the fact that 

 E. Behriana is sometimes a tree. This species is well worth in- 

 vestigation with adequate material. 



Magarey,* in describing the method of the Blacks in obtaining 

 water from the roots of the Mallees, says — " The roots of these 

 water-trees run out from the stem for 40 feet to 80 feet, and lie 

 at a depth only of from 2 inches to 9 inches below the surface. 

 The position of these lateral roots is frequently marked by a 

 'rise' or 'bulge' of the soil right over the root. The roots are 



* "Australian Aborigines' Water-Quest." Proc. R. Geog. of Aust., 

 South Australian Branch, iii., p. 67 (1899). Also Rept. Aust. Assoc. Arlv. 

 Sci., vi., 1895, p. 647. 



