606 OBSERVATIONS ON THE EUCALYPTS OF N.S.W., 



Botanical position. — Having described this Gum with some 

 detail, we now proceed to enquire into its botanical position. 

 There is no doubt that this "River White Gum," Bentham's 

 variety radiata of amygdalina (B. Fl. iii. 203), and Howitt's 

 form (e)"^ of E. amygdalina all come more or less satisfactorily 

 under Sieber's E. radiata. A good deal of confusion has occa- 

 sionally arisen in regard to the reading of Sieber's description. 

 We give Don's translation of the original Latin in DC. Prod. iii. 

 218, Howitt's description of the Gippsland form, and Bentham's 

 definition of var. radiata. 



"E. RADIATA, Sieb. 



"Lid of calyx hemispherical, mucronate, shorter than the cupula; 

 peduncles axillary and lateral, rather angular, and rather shorter 

 than the petioles; flowers 15-20 together in an umbel, on short 

 pedicels; leaves linear-lanceolate, veins very fine, confluent at the 

 apex, and forming a nerve, which is parallel with the margin. 



"Fruit globose, 3 lines in diameter. Petioles 4 lines long. 

 Leaves 4 inches long and 6-7 lines broad." 



Mr. Howitt describes his form (e) as having -.—Lea res narrow 

 lanceolar falcate, attenuate at the stalk and pointed. Venation 

 rather indistinct, the marginal vein considerably removed, and 

 the lateral veins very longitudinal. Umbels on stalks as long 

 or longer than the bud, the lid small and depressed, with a slight 

 point. Buds numerous, 3 to 20. Fruit ovate-truncate, with 

 slightly contracted orifice, compressed rather narrow rim, and 

 small weak valves. 



As described in the " Flora Australiensis," iii. 203, the 

 "variety" radiata has leaves rather broader (than the type), 3 to 

 4 inches long. Flowers usually more numerous, sometimes nearly 

 20 in the umbels. Fruit almost pear-shaped. 



E. radiata, Sieb. — Leaves linear-lanceolate, 4" long, 6-7"' broad, 

 veins very fine, confluent at apex, forming a nerve, which is 



* " The Eucalypts of Gippsland." Trans. Roy. Soc. Vic. Vol. ii. Pt. i. 

 p. 86, and Plate 10, figs. 1-5. 



