THE GENUS EUCALYPTUS. 217 



proposed system. "With the species E. piperita, or peppermint, 

 which is a tree resembling stringy bark, the smooth barked 

 mountain blue gum is associated ; and with E. pilularis, or black- 

 but, which is a half-barked tree, the white mahogany, with its 

 persistent bark, is placed as a probable variety. Again, with E. 

 amygdalina, or the messmate (a large tree very like stringy bark), 

 E, radiata, or the river white gum, is reckoned as a variety. 

 These apparent anomalies arise from relying too closely upon 

 artificial distinctions ; and if we look to the separation of species 

 under the proposed system, a similar inconsistency appears. The 

 ironbarks, which certainly should be grouped together, stand apart. 

 E. leucoxylon, or the red flowering ironbark, and IE. pamctilata, 

 or the white ironbark, are in the second series ; and E. sider- 

 opliloia, or the red ironbark, and E. melanophloia, or the silver 

 leaved ironbark, are placed in the fourth. Again, the white 

 mahogany (E. acmenioides) is in the first series, and E. robusta, 

 or swamp mahogany, and E. botri/oides, or the bastard mahogany, 

 are in the fifth series, sub-series 3 ; whilst the red mahogany 

 {E. resinifera) stands in sub-series 6. These are some of the 

 results arising from the application of the principles laid down ? 

 so that whatever merit there may be in an artificial system by 

 which museum plants can be named, (and I am far from denying 

 the credit due to the illustrious botanist for his exertions in that 

 respect) I do not think that such an arrangement will ever meet 

 with much favour with those who are studying the living plants. 

 As Mr. Bentham had merely dried specimens before him, and 

 knew nothing of the species as they grow in their natural soil, it 

 was impossible for him to appreciate the value of any system 

 founded on difference of bark and habit. Alliances well known 

 even to the woodcutter in these colonies, had no place in his 

 mind, and therefore, judging simply from the material before him, 

 he did the best for us in his power, and collected an amount of 

 information from various sources which hereafter will greatly 

 assist any one who may be disposed to consider the most judicious 

 mode of grouping the species. Viewed practically, it must be 

 admitted that Dr. Mueller's method of grouping our Eucalypti, 

 according to the nature and texture of the bark, is the best 

 system which has yet been promulgated; and whilst future 

 observations may render it more precise by defining with accuracy 

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