EUCALYPTUS TREES. 1% 
tralia ; it is content with drier soil than the Redgum-Eucalypt. 
Its manna, which occurs in crumb-like pieces, is not chemically 
identical with the real manna used in medicine, as it contains 
no mannit, but forms a saccharine substance, scientifically de- 
fined as melitose, and-is secreted by the instrumentality of 
cicade, which frequent this particular tree and derive nourish- 
ment from its sap. Another sugary substance, occurring on the 
Mallee-Eucalypts of our desert, called Lerp, is worthy of notice. 
‘It is the product of a psyllidous insect, and as well stated by 
Mr. Th. Dobson the white depressed scale-like cones are formed 
by the Lerp-Psylla on the mallee-leaves for its protection in the 
larva- and pupa-state. 
The Stringybark-tree (Hucalyptus obliqua) constitutes a 
large mass of the forests of our less fertile ranges. It pertains to 
a division of the genus, different to that of the Blue Gum-tree 
and Red Gum-tree, whether its bark or its anthers are viewed. 
The almost stringy or fibrous bark sheds not in layers, but being 
persistent continues to increase in thickness and affords for the 
primitive buildings of the first settlers fair roofs. It can also be 
used for preparing potash and can be converted into pulp for the 
rougher kinds of paper. According to the anatomic arrangement, 
adopted by Dr. Josef Moeller for the Hucalyptus-Barks, that of 
K. obliqua belongs to the series, characterised by bast-bundles 
not penetrating to the whole width of the bast-rays, with few 
stone-cells only and with no resinous cavities in the cellular 
tissue (or parenchyma). The Stringybark-tree, irrespective of 
the nature of its bark and its very fissile wood, is in comparison 
to the Blue and Red Gum-trees specifically characterised by 
stronger fewer and less spreading veins of the leaves, by clus- 
tered calyces on very short stalklets with a hemispheric lid 
shorter than the tube, by almost kidney-shaped anthers and by 
the valves of the fruit being concealed within the cavity of the 
calyx. 
The number of species of Eucalypts, known to occur within 
Victorian territory, amounts to about thirty. Many of these are 
restricted to defined geologic formations. Descriptions of all the 
species and notes on their geographic distribution are given in 
B 
