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



Then coming to Bentham's brief definition of variety radiata, 

 he states that the "leaves are rather broader than type." He has 

 probably followed in part Hooker (" Flora of Tasmania," p. 137) 

 in his description of jS*. 7'ac?m^a .• — "Leaves . . . rather small, 

 usually 3 inches long , . . narrow, sometimes very much so, 

 though not so narrow as E. amygdalina usually has them." We 

 have already shown what is the average length of the leaves of 

 the River White Gum. As regards the breadth, the leaves of 

 the E-iver White Gum are usually narrower (not broader) than 

 those of typical N.S.W. forms of amygdalina. As regards the 

 fruits, Bentham's variety is "almost pear-shaped." Here again 

 Hooker is probably followed. The latter states fruits "turbinate 

 or obconic, rather large." Neither in size nor shape does this 

 correctly describe our River White Gum. As showing the 

 difficulty of dealing with E. radiata, we may point out that 

 (doubtfully) Hooker (op. cit.) quotes five forms of it in Tasmania 

 alone. We would like to observe that Sieber's original specimen 

 of E. radidta came from N.S.W., and not from Tasmania, and it 

 would be well to modify Bentham's brief description in the direc- 

 tions we have indicated, and not to follow a description of the 

 variety made from Tasmanian forms. 



We have proved that our River White Gum does not entirely 

 agree with Sieber's E. radiata nor with Bentham's var. radiata, 

 and our tree is so well marked that had we decided that it was 

 expedient to recommend the restoration of E. radiata. Sieb., to 

 specific rank, we should probably have defined our River White 

 Gum as a variety of the same. In that case, we might have 

 called it fiiiformis in allusion to the pedicels. 



But after careful consideration we have decided to continue the 

 River White Gum as a variety of amygdalina, though not without 

 doubt. Close affinity between the type and var. radiata is shown 

 by the seedling or sucker leaves; the type species approaches it 

 sometimes in buds, mature foliage and even fruits, while we have 

 shown the River White Gum sometimes to have rough bark. We 

 may, perhaps, at some future time re-open the question. 



