597 



DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF 

 MYRTACEJE. 



By R. T. Baker, F.L.S. 



(Plates xxv.-xxvi.) 



Introduction. — The two species of Melaleuca described in this 

 paper, have, in the past, been regarded as M. Leucadendron Linn, 

 or at least forms of it. 



The proposal, now, to raise them to specific rank, has come 

 about by a research, undertaken during the last four years, at 

 the Technological Museum, on the " Melaleucas and their 

 Essential Oils," the results having been read before the Royal 

 Society of New South Wales. When, however, an investigation 

 of the species passing as M. Leucadendron Linn., was undertaken, 

 it was found that at least six distinct species had, in the past, 

 been synonymised under it, by various authors working on the 

 genus. 



In the Flora Australiensis (Vol. iii., pp. 142-143), Bentham 

 places the following as synonyms :— M. Leucadendron Linn., M. 

 minor Sm., M. viridiflora Gaeertn., M. saligna Blume, M. land- 

 folia Turcz., M. Cumingiana Turcz., M. Cunninghamii Schau. 

 M. saligna Schau., M. mimosoides Schau., M. lanceolata R.Br. 

 Bailey, in his Flora of Queensland, gives as varieties : — M. 

 Leucadendron Linn., var. lancifolia, var. saligna, and var. Cunn- 

 inghamii. 



In the paper read before the Royal Society, this year (1913), 

 it has been shown that no such synonyms obtain in connection 

 with this species, and that the above are all worthy of specific 

 consideration. Further, it is doubtful now whether M. Leuca- 

 dendron Linn., really occurs in Australia, comparison of Austra 

 lian material having been made with the original specimens of 

 Linnaeus, in the Herbarium of the Linnean Society of London. 



