138 ON THE EUCALYPTS OF N.S.W., PART VIII., 



Pedicels. — Pedicels short (B.FL). They, however, vary in length 

 in many localities. 



Buds. — In New South Wales specimens the buds are usually 

 very smooth and shining (B.Fl.). The words " smooth and 

 shining " apply best to the buds of certain forms of E. Gnnnii 

 that Bentham included under vi?ni7ialis, but shininess is no 

 absolute criterion. 



Opercidum. — " Conical or hemispherical, blunt or sharp, as long 

 as the calyx" (Hooker's Fl. Tas.). Obtuse or conical, not much 

 longer than the calyx-tube (B.FL). The shape varies within 

 very wide limits. The ovoid-budded forms have the opercula 

 rounded, sometimes nearly hemispherical; others are conical 

 and even beaked. In Northern New South Wales, for example, 

 the operculum varies from ovoid to very pointed; this latter form 

 is found in the northern portion and in Victoria and Tasmania. 

 The beaked operculum is found in the three-flowered and multi- 

 flowered series. 



Following are notes on two specimens with beaked or very long 

 opercula : — 



(«) A specimen from Snow}'- River in Herb. Melb. in Mueller's 

 handwriting "^. viminalis, Labill., var. jjedicellaris, Mueller." 

 Slightly glaucous ; multiflowered. (This is Mr. Baker's E. 

 Smithii). 



(b) Also from the Snowy River, labelled by Mueller " E. 

 viminalis, Labill., var. rhynchocorys, Ferd. Mueller (rhyitchos, a 

 beak) and with the addition, "Regarded by Bentham as a variety 

 of E. tereticornis " (a mistake readily made with specimens only 

 in leaf and bud). Three-flowered; slightly glaucous. 



E. viminalis often imidtijlowered. 



" Peduncles . . . bearing three, rarely four or more 

 flowers. . . . Australian specimens have often more than 

 three flowers on each peduncle" (Hooker's Fl. Tas.). We have 

 a number of multiflowered specimens from Tasmania. 



"Peduncles short, axillary or lateral, bearing in some specimens, 

 especially northern ones, always 3 flowers on short pedicels, in 



