96 THE EUCALYPTS OF GIPPSLAND. 



E. polynnthema. — Of this type there are two varieties, which, however, are not 

 sufficiently marked to justify me in separating them, as 1 have clone in other cases. 

 Where it occurs in the littoral districts, as, for instance, at the Lakes' Entrance, or 

 river fiats at Heyfield or Bruthen, it has full foliage of a rather dark green colour, 

 and the leaves somewhat thin in texture. The tree grows to some size, but in many 

 cases, as Baron von Mueller has already pointed out, become so hollow as to form a 

 mere shell. 



The second variety is found in the hill country, and ascends from about 100ft. 

 above sea level, as at Heyfield, to an elevation of 2000ft., as at the Wellington Eiver and 

 at the Tambo Eiver (Fainting Range). This mountain variety is a much smaller 

 tree than the lowland form ; the leaves are thicker in texture, frequently pruinous, or 

 even mealy. At first sight the tree resembles somewhat E. hemipliloia (variety 

 Albens) in its bark, and ash coloured, and sometimes rather lengthened ovate leaves. 

 But it is readily distinguished by the form of the buds, by the outer filaments being 

 anantherous, and by the fruit. The seedlings and young saplings of both have much 

 in common. 



E. hemipliloia. — This species is extensively represented in Gippsland as a 

 mountain form. It occurs, for instance, in the valley of the Tambo Eiver, north of 

 Fainting Range, where it forms the principal part of the forest, from about 750ft. at 

 Numlamungie to 2500ft. at Tongeo Gap. It is found at Turnback, at the Snowy 

 River, at Deddick, and, more rarely, at Tubbut. 



Its characteristics accord entirely with the diagnosis given in the " Eucalypto- 

 graphia," with the exception that the umbels are formed by buds of comparatively 

 large size. The fruit is proportionately large. The bark, also, extends frequently far 

 up the branches, so that when the leaves are not markedly elongated, this tree 

 resembles, as I have already said, at first sight, the mountain form of E. 

 polyanthema. Yet, so far as I have observed, the two species are sharply marked off 

 from each other. 



This form of E. hemipliloia appears to me to be that variety called E. albens. 



E. pnlverulenta is found in many places in Gippsland, though it nowhere forms 

 the bulk of the forests, or it is found scattered widely among other Eucalypts. In 

 South Gippsland, and near Boolarra, it grows to a maximum height of under 50ft., but 

 is of a smaller growth in other parts, as, for instance, at Osier's Creek, Providence 

 Ponds, and Buchan. The peculiarity of this variety, as found in Gippsland, to which 

 Baron von Mueller has drawn attention in his " Eucalyptographia," lies in the 

 lanceolar or falcate form of the opposed leaves of the aged trees, the ovate or 

 rounded leaves being confined to the saplings, or young trees. 



