BY THE REV. W. W00LLS. 55 



In his preface to the Eucalyptoyraphia, 1880, (in which 100 

 species are figured and described), Baron Mueller has adopted Mr. 

 Bentham's system, with certain modifications, for all the Eucalypts 

 in Australia. Whilst still retaining the opinion that the "cortical 

 system" is useful for work in the field, he recognises the anthereal 

 system as most convenient for arranging specimens in the museum . 

 Without, however, finally arranging his figures according to any 

 fixed plan, the Baron says, that, on full consideration, he has 

 deemed it best to leave the lithograms unnumbered, so that any 

 one who " had occasion to utilise his work might arrange the 

 plates either in accordance with the method derived from the 

 stamens, or according to the cortical system, or, if he should think 

 it more convenient, alphabetically." 



The anthereal system, as modified by the Baron, is thus 

 explained : — 



I. —Renantherece \ ,..,.■,■,. ,, fco 



XT V as already indicated in the flora. 



II. — rorantkerece ) 



III — Strongylantherecb) having anthers not or scarcely longer 



than broad, usually round, opening by longitudinal slits. 

 IV. — Orthantherece, having anthers distinctly longer than broad, 

 opening by almost parallel slits. 



In tracing the study of Eucalyptus, it may be seen how diflicult 

 it is to fix on any peculiar characters for the determination and 

 grouping of species. Before R. Brown had visited these shores 

 and had returned to Europe with 4000 specimens of plants almost 

 new to science, few species of Eucalypts were known. Nor do 

 they appear to have received much addition from the labours of 

 that eminent man, for as his collections were made either at Port 

 Jackson, or on the coasts of Australia when voyaging with Flinders 

 (1801-1805), he had no opportunity, of discovering any inland 

 species. Brown, however, was the first to notice that some of the 

 Eucalypts had a double operculum, the outer, in his opinion, being 

 in the form of a calyx, and the inner in that of a corolla. The 

 species connected with his name are : — 



E. calophylla, R.Br. ; Western Australia. 



E. grandifolia, R.Br. ; Northern Australia. 



