THE EUCALYPTS OF GIPPSLAND. 91 



the bnds, and the stalket nearly as long as the calyx tube, the lid semi-ovate to 

 hemispheric, smooth and occasionally slightly pointed, the stamens (rather sparse) are 

 large and reniform like those of E. capitellata. Fruit almost hemispherical to 

 approaching semi-ovate, the rim Hat or even slightly inverted, not wide, valves deltoid, 

 small, and inserted, or more rarely slightly prominent; four-valved, less frequently 

 three to five valved. 



The timber of this tree is usually rather darker in tint than that of E. piperita. 

 It is fissile, free from gum veins or shakes, clear in the grain, and enjoying a great 

 reputation for durability. It is used for fencing and sawing, and, according to Mr. 

 Macalpine, of Tarraville, who has lived for 40 years in South Gippsland, fences are 

 still standing at Woranga with posts split from this Eucalypt, wdiicli have been from 

 30 to 40 years in the groimd. I have myself observed posts of this timber standing 

 in fences at Woodside since 1859. The local name of this tree is "yellow stringy- 

 bark." 



This Eucalypt, therefore, is to be placed between E. eugenioides and E. capitel- 

 lata. It resembles both, but the dissimilarities are more marked than the resemblances. 

 The characteristic distinctions are quite as constant as those which distinguish those 

 two species, and the occurrence of these species over so large an area, as well as in 

 independent lesser colonies, negatives the probability of its being a mere hybrid. The 

 distinctions which I have now noted as separating this Eucalypt from its nearest 

 congeners are such as to have led me early in my enquiry to regard it as a species 

 distinct from either. I hesitated, however, to definitely state this until I had an 

 opportunity of comparing my samples with those in the collection of the Government 

 Botanist. Having been enabled to do this through the courtesy of Baron von Mueller, 

 and having been most kindly aided in the comparison by Mr. Luehmann, I feel that, 

 being fortified by the opinion of our greatest authority, the venerable author of 

 " Eucalyptographia," I may establish this Eucalypt as an independent species under 

 the designation of Eucalyptus muelleriana. 



E. capitellata. — This tree occurs in small colonies, scattered over a great part of 

 Gippsland. It cannot, strictly speaking, be called one of the littoral species, for I 

 have not seen it growing at a lower elevation than 500ft., as at Drouin West, 760ft. 

 at Darlimurla, and above that elevation between Brutheu and Buchan. Thence it 

 ascends the mountains to 1200ft., near Walhalla, and 2000ft. on Mount Elizabeth, 

 near Noyang. It varies but little in character, yet in places the fruit approaches that 

 of E. macrorhyncha in the somewhat protruded vertex and to E. muelleriana when 

 the margin is but slightly convex. I have referred to the peculiarity of its seedlings 

 in comparmg those of the stringy barks generally, after speaking of those of E. obliqua. 



E. macyorhyncha. — This is essentially a mountain species in Gippsland, and the 



