THE EUCALYPTS OF GIPPSLAND. 95 



E. odorata. — This tree has in many respects a superficial resemblance to E. 

 melliodora, with which it was for a long time locally confounded in Gippsland. 



Of late it has received the local name of " Grey-box " from the splitters and 

 sawmillers. 



It grows principally on the Miocene limestones in the littoral tracts of North 

 Gippsland. 



The difference between E. odorata and E. melliodora was long apparent to me, 

 from a careful comparison of the trees growing in the Mitchell River district, and 

 especially from distinctions which have been apparent to the timber men there. 

 The wood of this Eucalypt is much browner in colour than that of E. melliodora, 

 and while the timber of the latter can very rarely be split into posts or rails, that 

 of the former, although it is difiicult to split " on the quarter," is, when once the log 

 is opened, "backed off" with great ease. The principal differences upon .which a 

 rapid diagnosis may be made lie in the greatly superior height of E. odorata, in 

 its freer growth, the rhytiphloious bark, the smooth upper portion of the stem and 

 limbs, and the somewhat larger fruit, with a narrow compressed rim, and more deeply 

 sunk orifice. Finally, the outer stamens are all provided with fertile anthers, while 

 those of E. melliodora are anantherous. 



The timber of this tree is most durable, and is one of the most serviceable of 

 the Eucalypts of Victoria, especially for work which is exposed to damp. 



This tree grows to 200ft., or in exceptional cases to perhaps 250ft. in height. 



I have observed a small colony of E. odorata growing in South Gippsland, near 

 Four-mile Creek. The occurrence of this tree in ^he Miocene limestones of North 

 Gippsland falls in with the statement made by Baron von Mueller tliat it occurs 

 upon limestone areas at 8t. Vincent's Gulf. 



E. leucoxylon, — This tree does not form forests in Gippsland, as in other parts of 

 Victoria, but occurs scattered over a wide extent of country, from sea level up to 

 2000ft. It grows upon various formations, as, for instance, at Toongabbie, on recent 

 Alluviums, Tertiary clays, and Upper Silurian. At Bairnsdale, upon Miocene and later 

 Tertiary beds; at Glen Maggie, upon Upper Silurian sandstone ; at Upper Freestone 

 Creek, upon Upper Devonian conglomerates; at Noyang, upon Palaeozoic Plutonic 

 rocks ; and near Buchan, on Tertiary sands and clays. 



I have not observed it further to the westward than Toongabbie, and it varies 

 but little, if at all, in character throughout Gippsland. 



E. melliodora. — This is also of wide distribution, from about Traralgon, in South 

 Gippsland, to Jingalala, in North-east Gippsland, and at all elevations up to 2000ft., 

 and on all formations. Its characteristics are also constant. 



