[Pkoc. Koy. Soc. Victokia, 25 (N.S.). l'^'- !•> I'Jl^]- 



Ak'I'. XV. — Note.<< on f<ome " >Strvngi/h(i rk" EitcdJijpfs. 



By ROYSTON DREW, HEBER GREEN and P. R. H. 8t. JOHN. 



(With Platt-s X and XI). 



[Read 11th July. 1912]. 



I. — The Occuprence of Eucalyptus Cons\den\a.r>aL (Ynfchili-) 

 in the Lower Yarra District. 



For some years past one of us has had under observation near 

 Eltham a single " stringybark "' tree which was evidently not E. 

 macrorhynclia, nor any of the other common species known to be pre- 

 sent in that district. 



About eighteen months ago another specimen was found near 

 Lilydale, presenting considerable differences both in the size and 

 shape of its carpels and even, as we have since found, in the oil dis- 

 tilled from its foliage. 



We have since proved that they are both forms of E. Consideniana, 

 the " Yertchuk " discovered by A. W. Howitt^ in Gippsland, and 

 described by J. H. Maiden,^ Vjut this is the first record of its appear- 

 ance so near Melbourne, and our verdict as to its identity has been 

 confirmed by Mr. Maiden. The tree itself grows on the poor soil 

 overlying the silurian shales and resembles the stringybarks of the 

 district {E. marrorJti/iicJia) in general appearance and height. The 

 bark, however, is softer and less furrowed, and the leaves are nar- 

 rower ; in these respects it resembles the messuutte {E. ohliqua), but 

 this does not occur near Eltham. The carpels also usually differ 

 from those of E. iiian-orlii/NcIia and dther allied species in possessing 

 a red rim and in not being domed. 



The usual difficult}' of discriminating between the various ■" stringy- 

 barks " was accentuated bj^ the consideral)le vaiiations shown, 

 especially by the carpels. (See Plate X.) 



These variations, which will be referred to later, are much greater 

 than are indicated l)y Maiden, and it seems advisable to amplify 

 his deseription. 



In our endeavour to identify the tree and to decide wlicther the 

 various forms observed were of one species (inly, we sought further 

 information in three directions. 



1. Trillin. Ko_v. Soc. Vic, ii., p. 82. 



2. Crit. rtev., vol. i., p. 312, .and Proc. l.iiiti. Soc. N..S.\V., I!l(i4, |i. 47.'>. 



