46-1 ErCALYPTS OF THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, 



will prove that it is really so. The bark of the "White Mahogany 

 is similar to that of Stringy Bark, though not so fibrous ; whilst 

 the wood is very different from that of Blackbutt, being of a 

 light colour, sometimes prettily waved, and of a satiny appearance. 

 The trees also vary in habit and size, the White Mahogany being' 

 more of a forest tree than Blackbutt, and never, as far as I have 

 observed, attaining the same height. The timber is useful for 

 building purposes, palings, and flooring boards, and is heavier 

 and more durable than that of Stringy Bark. Baron Mueller 

 says of this tree, that ''either as a variety or as a species it 

 differs from JE. pilularis in more fibrous outside paler and still 

 more extensively persistent bark, further in leaves of smaller 

 size, thinner consistence and beneath paler hue with only 

 hypogenous stomata and more visible oil dots, in smaller flowers 

 on thinner stalklets and less compressed stalks, smaller fruits 

 with a narrower rim and often rather more enclosed valves." 

 This species is common near Parramatta, and extends to the 

 Blue Mountains and Illawarra. In its general appearance, it is 

 so like Stringy Bark as to be mistaken sometimes for that tree ; 

 but no one, unless judging solely from dried specimens, would 

 connect it with Blackbutt. This consideration convinces me, 

 that the artiflcial system of classification is open to objection. 



2. E. lotryoides, (Smith), the ''Bastard Mahogany" Oj, 

 "Bangalay " of workmen, occurring for the most part in moist 

 sandy places near the coast, is seldom found to attain any great 

 size in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and generally has a gnarled 

 appearance. In the Flora Australiensis (Vol. III., j)- 229), this 

 tree has been placed together with E. saligna or the Blue Gum. 

 There is certainly some resemblance in the flowers, fruit, and 

 leaves, but the trees differ very much in bark, wood, and habit. 

 Sir W. Macarthur, in referring to E. lotryoides as it appears in 

 the Southern Districts, calls it " a crooked-growing tree ; the 

 timber much valued for knees and crooked timbers of coasting 

 vessels." This character agrees very well with the tree as seen 



