BY HENRY DEAXE AND J. H. MAIDEN. 601 



2. Yar. radiata, containing the tree usually known as " River 



White Gum." 



Slicker or seedling leaves hroadish. 



3. Variety latifoUa (nobis), comprising some of the broad- 



leaved forms. 



There are other forms, at present placed under amygdalina, 

 but as our specimens or observations in regard to them are 

 incomplete, we prefer to postpone consideration of them. 



1. Typical E. amiygdalina. 



Introductory. — In the case of such a protean species as E. 

 amy g dahlia, it may be useful, and it is certainly interesting, to 

 note what the definition of the species really was, as by different 

 authors the description has been modified very considerably. 



The original specimen described by Labillardiere came from 

 Tasmania. The following is Don's translation of the species 

 description given in DC. Prod, iii. 219 : — 



" Lid hemispherical, nearly mutic, shorter than the cup; 

 peduncles axillary and lateral, nearly terete, length of the petioles; 

 umbels 6-8 flowered, nearly capitate; leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 attenuated at the base, and acuminately mucronate at the apex. 

 Leaves 3 inches long, and 3 lines broad, some unequal at the base, 

 and some equal. Petioles and peduncles 3 lines long. Fruit 

 globose, size of a grain of pepper." 



Vernacular names. — Peppermint or Messmate are the most 

 widely used names, and they are perhaps indiscriminately 

 employed. Perhaps the former name is more prevalent as far 

 north as Mittagong and the Blue Mountains, and the latter in 

 New England, but the tM^o names are often employed in the same 

 district for the same tree. Some other local names will be found 

 under Range. 



Bark. — This is the least variable characteristic; it is sub- 

 fibrous, although on the one hand it sometimes approaches the 

 character of a Stringybark, on the other hand it is often of a 



