368 NOTES ON EUCALYPTUS RISDONI, HOOKER. 



variety hypericifolia. The latter was labelled E. liyperi- 

 cifolia by Robert Brown, and is in Bentham's Flora 

 referred to as a variety of E. amygdalina. 



Variety elata is simply a main extension from the type 

 in the direction of an alternate, petiolate leaved condition. 

 The primitive leaves are exactly as in the type, but the 

 mature ones are alternate, petiolate with' lanceolate, 

 slightly oblique laminae, often attaining a length of 15 

 cm., and a breadth of 3 cm. 



The type form of E. Risdoni has a very restricted 

 distribution, but var. elata is found almost throughout 

 the state, where it mingles with, and often is taken for, 

 a broad-leaved form of E. amygdalina. 



The type appears to be only found on dry, mudstone 

 hills; var. elata thrives in a similar situation, so that its 

 form is not a mere expression of better nutriment. It 

 would be an interesting experiment to note the extent 

 of variation that could be induced in the type by being 

 grown under varied cultural conditions. 



Under the name var. hypericifolia we have to include 

 an assortment of varied forms of an apparently unstable 

 character, which are still closely related to one another, 

 how much of the variation of form is hereditarv and how 

 much is merely ontogenetic are factors that remain to 

 be proved. The central form of this variety mav be 

 considered to be the following: — 



Leaves with a shining surface and of a dull glaucosity, 

 the immature ones lanceolate, sessile in opposite pairs, 

 usually narrowly connate at the base, or even on the same 

 tree broadly ovate and broadly connate, but when so rela- 

 tively longer than in the type; mature leaves lanceolate to 

 nearly ovate, equal sided, alternate, with a long petiole 

 and elongated, acute apex. The fruit is as large as in 

 the type. 



Of the forms observed the following may be referred 

 to : — 



Form a. : Leaves not shining but glaucous, rather 

 small, about 5 cm. long, lanceolate, opposite sessile, 

 opposite petiolate, or alternate. Fruit relatively small. 



Form b. : Leaves dull, slightly glaucous, the mature 

 ones broadly ovate, equal alternate, about 3 cm. to 6 cm. 

 long. Fruit relatively small. 



