24 



those known from the Tasmanian territory, especially if a 

 collector purposely visited the isles north of the main island 

 during the spring season. As this could be accomplished by 

 a very small expenditure, I venture to express a hope that the 

 enlightened legislature of Tasmania, which was never even 

 called on to support the issue of the seven volumes of the 

 Flora Australiensis by Mr. Bentham and myself, from 1862 

 till 1877, will think fit to identify itself with the progress of 

 this extensive publication in its continuating and supple- 

 mental volumes now under elaboration. 



NOTES ON A SPECIES OF EUCALYPTUS (E. 



H^MASTOMA) NOT HITHERTO EECOEDED 



IN TASMANIA. 



By T. Stephens, M.A., F.G.S. 



[Bead 10th May, 1881.] 



Among the timber trees of this colony, a species of 

 Eucalyptus, popularly known as the " gum-topped stringy 

 bark,'' hiLS long been familiar to saw mill proprietors and 

 splitters ; but through some strange oversight on the part 

 of botanical collectors it has never hitherto been included in 

 the Flora of Tasmania. Some two years ago, having been 

 asked by a friend to ascertain its botanical name, I found 

 that no tree answering its description had yet been scien- 

 tifically recognised ; and I at once sought the aid of friends 

 in various parts of the island, requesting them to obtain 

 specimens in flower for identification, but without success. 

 In February last, I was fortunate enough to fall in with a 

 well-grown tree in full blossom, specimens of which were 

 forwarded to Baron Von Mueller with a result which will be 

 best described by quoting from a letter which he has kindly 

 forwarded me : — 



" Your letter of 2nd April is before me concerning the 

 Hemiphloious stringy bark tree, and after your lucid remark 

 there can be no doubt that it is Eucal. hcemastoma of Sir 

 James Smith, so that your circumspect exertions have been 

 rewarded by the discovery of a species of Eucalyptus new to 

 Tasmania. This species has latterly also been found in 

 Gippsland, and I have been able to study more fully its 

 characteristics. You could oblige me by noting the differ- 

 ences of the timber (as opportunity occurs), and also of the 

 seedlings." 



The chief peculiarity of this tree is that while the lower 

 part of the butt is clothed with a thitk fibrous bark closely 

 resembling that of the common stringy bark (E. obliqua), 



