170 A RESEARCH ON THE EUCALYPTS OF TASMANIA 



In our work on " Eucalyi3ts and Their Essential Oils"'' 

 (1902, p. 145), under " E. fasfigata," occurs the follow- 

 ing:— 



" The authors of this species (Deane and Maiden) are 

 inclined to regard it as not specifically different from E. 

 regnans, of Mueller (Proc. Linn. See. N.S.W., 1889, 

 p. 460). We, however, prefer to consider these two 

 Eucalypts as distinct, for Mueller's description of the 

 latter species (Report Acclim. Soc. Vict. 1870) is so 

 very clear and precise that he could hardly have con- 

 founded the material of E . fasfigata when describing E . 

 regnans. Specimens of E. fastigata were first sent by 

 W, Bauerlen from Delegate to Baron von Mueller under 

 the name of " Cut Tail," who hesitatingly named it 

 /:'. (unj/gdalina, var., showing that he never associated it 

 with his E . regnans, a species of his own collecting." 



Although written over 10 years ago, our researches since 

 with these two species have not led us to alter the wording 

 in any way. In fact, they have brought to light new facts 

 which substantiate our contention that the two are dis- 

 tinct. 



The material of E. fasti gat (i now m this museum has 

 been collected at Rvlstone, Kirkconnell near Bathurst, 

 Bowral, Monga, and Delegate, and in every case are all 

 identical. A tree, therefore, with such a constancy of 

 characters over such a range should, we think, carry more 

 than a varietal rank. The material of E. reg}ians has 

 been obtained from Yarra Junction, Victoria, and now 

 from Mt. Wellington, Tasmania, and agree in every par- 

 ticular with each other, and at the same time show a dis- 

 tinct difference from E. fastigata. 



It perhaps would not be out of place if a few notes were 

 given here that would assist others in the differentiation of 

 the species. 



I'J . fastigata is best detected by its fruits, which have- 

 domed, red-rims, and slightly exserted valves. 



E. regnans fruits, although pear-shaped like those of 

 its congener, have a truncate or counter-sunk rim ; and 

 these two features are the best to distinguish the species 

 morphologically . 



The peduncles are often in pairs in each case. The seed- 

 ling leaves differ, for in E . regiian>i they are very broad, 

 almost ovate, and in E. fastigata lanceolate. The bark 

 of E. fastigata is invariably rough and stringy, 

 and E. regnans is mostly smooth — hence its com- 

 mon name " Giant Gum " of Victoria. The timbers, 



