58 



PEOCEEDINQS OF THE 



every branchlet, but became more and more distant towards the 

 lower end, where also they had lost their position at right angles 

 to the axis, aud had assumed one more or less parallel to it and to- 

 ward the apex of the branchlet. 



The midrib is thin, but quite distinct, and paler 

 than tlie remainder of the leaf, the adjoining portions 

 of which are dark shining green, but the margins of 

 both sides and apical extremity are clear golden 

 yellow, scarcely showing a trace of the shading of the 

 green and yellow into each other at the boundary, 

 though the "latter is somewhat uneven. This yellow 

 margin is wider in older than in younger leaves, 

 though present in all, extending from the place where 

 the peduncle merges into the blade to the apex. 

 The margins are more or less regularly serrated, 

 and scarcely, if at all, recurved, but bent longitudi- 

 nally upwards at considerable angles. The trans- 

 verse veins are distinct, numerous, very fine, and 

 their reticulation obscure. The underside is uni- 

 formly pale, almost white, and the yellow of the 

 upper border scarcely noticeable. The youngest 

 portions are of brownish tints, soft and densely 

 villous. The terminal buds are easily detached 

 by shaking ; they are developed in twos and Mature leaf of 



,1 ° variegated form 



threes. oiBankda 



The accompanying sketch of a leaf (natural size) ^^^^^^-^^^^ Cav. 

 will show, in connexion with the above, that the 

 variety differs considerably from the description of BanJcsia margi- 

 nata given in Bentham's Plora Austr. v. p. 553 ; yet the latter is 

 the only species occurring m the neighbourhood for many miles 

 around. Neither flowers nor fruit were seen, the plant being too 

 young ; but I was told by a gentleman, whom there is no reason 

 to doubt, that a larger tree did exist in another locality among 

 the sauie hills some miles to the south. 



Have we here an instance of the spontaneous production of 

 a new variety or sj)ecie3, or the last remnant of one near 

 extinction ? 



