340 SUPPOSED HYBRIDISATION AMONGST EUCALYPTS, 



other species, has prosecuted enquiries in an intelligent and pains- 

 taking manner. 



We are indebted to specimens of a species from Concord from 

 Mr. R. H. Cambage, and the examination of the specimens from 

 the point of view of hybridisation is so instructive that we relate 

 it in detail. Mr. Cambage stated that his tree was growing 

 among E. paniculata, Sm., (another of the Ironbarks), with E. 

 hemiphloia near. He added : — " The fruits look like those of E. 

 paniculata, but the bark is not that of an Ironbark. The bark 

 is as smooth as that of E. hemiphloia, and continues right up 

 among the branches." Reference to the herbarium of the late 

 Dr. Woolls showed that he had, many years previously, obtained 

 specimens from the same locality, and following is a copy of his 

 label : — " E. panicxdata^ Bastard Ironbark. Bark something like 

 Woolly Butt or Box." The immature fruits have rims which 

 remind one of those of E. melliodora, and, while seized of its 

 affinities to E. pmiiculata, E. siderophloia, and E. hemiphloia, there 

 was certainly evidence to look upon it as an aberrant form of E. 

 melliodora, and also of Bosistoana, an affinity which (as regards 

 the latter species) had already been arrived at by Mueller (though 

 in a different way), as regards the Cabramatta specimens (see 

 p. 343). The fruits are a shade smaller than those of some 

 specimens in our possession, and we have from time to time looked 

 upon the tree as a possible hybrid between E. paniculata and E. 

 hemiphloia, and E. paniculata and E. melliodora respectively. 

 We have examined the trees referred to by Dr. Woolls and Mr. 

 Cambage, and are of opinion that, while they may be properly 

 described as " Black Box " and " Ironbark Box," there are certain 

 points of difference between them and the Cabramatta trees 

 which make us hesitate in referring them to the same species. 

 The foliage and fruits are less coarse than those of Cabramatta, 

 and this circumstance, coupled with the fact that the trees grow 

 amongst E. paniculata, may cause some observers who may be 

 inclined to look upon the Concord trees as hybrids to consider 

 that E. paniculata is one of the parents. Bearing in mind that 

 cases of hybridisation amongst Eucalypts usually break down 



