BY L. ROD WAY, C.M.G. 17 



White Gum hybridises with its immediate relatives. 

 In forests of mixed Bhie and White Gum^ occasionally an 

 odd tree may be met with beai-ing median characteristics 

 between the "two. The bark and leaves are intermediate, 

 the flowers are in threes, the operculum is smooth, the 

 fruit is about one centimetre diameter, and smooth, but 

 has often one to three slight ribs. This has been 

 described by R. T. Baker as a distinct species under the 

 name of Eur. unialata. 



Where White Gum and Ovate Gum are intermixed it 

 is very common to find specimens quite intermediate be- 

 tween the two. 



White Gum and rrn Gum will also produce a hybrid 

 with very white smooth bark, very long naiTow leaves, 

 and flowers and fnxit intermediate between the two. 



GaniUeharh (Eur. rubida, Deane et Maiden). — On dry 

 hills and poor alluvial flats, extending from Bridgewater 

 to Russell, a tree with the character of White (rum, but 

 with smaller fruits, and the juvenile, opposite foliage, 

 glaucous, small and nearly rotund, is very common. Mr. 

 Maiden refers it to this species. Hitherto it has been con- 

 sidered to be a fomi of White (rum. This and closely 

 allied forms occur in many localities with a poor mudstonc 

 soil. The allied fonns have often broadly ovate, pointed, 

 green, juvenile leaves and larger fruits, and it is merely a 

 matter of opinion amongst the forms growing in Tasmania 

 which shall be refeiTed to White Gum and which to 

 Candlehark. 



Cider (rum (Eur. ;/unnii, Hooker). — Hooker described 

 and figured the species from material gathered in Tas- 

 mania. This tree is therefore the type with which all 

 forms must be compared. It is variable, and a matter 

 of individual opinion where we shall fix the division line 

 between this and adjacent species. The tree is widely 

 dispei-sed throughout Tasmania, but in only rare instances 

 is it found at a lower altitude than a thousand feet. A 

 small tree in exposed situations, it assumes very lofty 

 dimensions under more suitable conditions. In the typical 

 form the leaves are stalked, alternate, oblong, equal-sided, 

 and crenate on the margin ; the juvenile leaves are oppo- 

 site, sessile, rotund. The flowers are three together, 

 shortlv stalked to nearly sessile on a short common stalk. 

 The operculum much shorter than the tube, domed or 

 pyramidal ; fiiiit oblong to nearly hemispheric, valves 

 deeplv sunk. Bark smooth, pale from the base. Plants 

 growing on the Alma Tiers often have different juvenile 

 B 



