226 ox EUCALYPTUS MELANOPHLOIA, F.v M., 



these develop lanceolate, alternate leaves as the trees attain a 

 maximum height. 



As stated above, E. cor data, LabilL, and E. puh-erulenta, Sims, 

 are the only two Eucalypts in Eastern Australia and Tasmania 

 which preserve the sessile, cordate form or shape of leaf through- 

 out their life-history. The other species also recorded as posses- 

 sing this character are : — E. setosa, Schau., Gulf of Carpentaria; 

 E. gamophylla, F.v.M., Northern Territory, S.A.; E. macrocarpa, 

 Hook, f., West Australia ; and E. pricinosa, Schau., Gulf of 

 Carpentaria. I know nothing of the life-history of these species; 

 but possibly future research may also show that some at least 

 develop lanceolate leaves in their mature stages of growth. 



The lanceolate form of leaf of E. melanophloia, F.^■.M., first 

 came under my notice in January, 1900, in the shape of material 

 collected at Coolabah, and also between Girilambone and Cobar, 

 by Mr. Bauerlen, the Museum Collector, and forwarded under the 

 name of " Ironbark." At that time it was not even suspected of 

 being E. melanophloia; and as the specimens dia not agree with 

 any species known to me, its naming and investigation were held 

 over. 



Later, having occasion to collect material of E. melanophloia at 

 Narrabri, the "Silver-leaf Ironbark" of that district and a species 

 well known there bj'' its cordate, sessile, opposite leaves, it was 

 found that E. microtheca, F.v.M., occurred there also, and was 

 known vernacularly as " Swamp Box." Amongst some of the 

 material of this latter species forwarded for oil-investigation were 

 found leaves identical with the " Ironbark " of the West above 

 mentioned. The ver}'- greatest care had then to be exercised that 

 none but true leaves of E. microtheca were distilled, and several 

 distillations were undertaken in order to verify the results. 



The lanceolate form of leaves corresponding to the Western 

 "Ironbark" were next traced to their botanical source, which turned 

 out to be none other than E. melanophloia, and which species 

 Avas found to have a complete gradation of leaves from the 

 narrow-lanceolate to sessile-cordate, and also that the far Western 

 " Ironbark " is the same species, only differing in having a lanceo- 



