BY R. H. CAMBAGE. 209 



somewhat showy little shrub when in bloom, with its dense heads 

 of whitish flowers, and its identification is assisted by the long 

 fine awns which remain when most of the flower has fallen. 

 Some interest attaches to this plant through its almost total 

 disregard for climatic conditions, for it may be found around Port 

 Jackson, on the sandstone of the Blue Mountains at 3000 feet, 

 on the volcanic formation of the Canoblas near Orange at 4000 

 feet, and on man}'' of the sandy areas of the interior. It has 

 been recorded from all the States of Australia, and although its 

 habitat is not altogether regulated by the geological formation, 

 it appears to show a preference for sandy soil. 



Eucalyptas affinis was also found on the sandstone hill, and 

 usually frequents a sedimentary formation. One tree in parti- 

 cular was noticed close to the northern side of the road; and 

 although its identification might perhaps present some difficulty 

 to the botanist, the ordinary bushman would quickly and con- 

 fidently dispose of it as a hybrid with E. sideroxfjlon (Mugga) as 

 one parent, and perhaps E. hemiphloia, var. alhens (White Box), 

 as the other, both of which are growing around. 



E. C7'eb7'a, the Narrow-leaved Ironbark, appears scarce near 

 Dubbo, but is plentiful along the Dubbo-Gilgandra railway line, 

 particularly on the eastern side. It has a reddish timber of good 

 quality, and afifords employment for a number of men who are 

 engaged cutting railway sleepers. In the district mentioned this 

 species seems to be by far the most important for sleeper-cutting, 

 and great stacks of sleepers may be seen at most of the small 

 railway stations between Dubbo and Gilgandra. Though in 

 general appearance it has some resemblance to the coast White 

 or Grey Ironbark, E. paniculata, Sm , its leaves are usually 

 narrower, its fruits smaller, the bark darker and perhaps rougher, 

 while its timber is much redder. The seedling and " sucker " 

 leaves of this species are very narrow, some of the latter collected 

 near Gilgandra being only one line wide by two inches in length, 

 while others were under two lines wide and over four inches long. 

 E. crebra is common in Queensland, and in coming southerly, it, 

 like some other species already referred to in previous papers, 

 U 



