EUCALYPTUS BUPRESTIUM. 



could claim, would be its adaptability to grow on mere sand, which it would help to solidify, to 

 cover with shelter and shade where needed, and to convert finally into pasture-land. 



Mr. Otto Tepper confirms indirectly my supposition, that it is the nectar-fluid of the flowers, 

 which attracts some buprestideous beetle to this species ; inasmuch as he observed, that about the 

 month of February in Yorke's Peninsula large numbers of gigantic and beautiful Stigmodera- 

 beetles of four species take possession of Eucalyptus uncinata, which at the time is in full 

 bloom. In the afternoon and evening they were found almost exclusively among the flowers and 

 engaged in imbibing the nectar, which with perhaps delicate portions of the flowers seems to form 

 the nourishment of these buprestidse. Mr. Tepper never saw them feed on the leaves of Eucalypts, 

 as is the case with some other beetles. The females of these Stigmoderas deposit their eggs under 

 the loose dry bark of the branches ; the larvae feed at first under the bark, then through the sap- 

 wood into the centre of the stem, always downward, until they reach the bottom of the tree, where 

 they form tortuous oval galleries. These particular Stigmoderas, according to information gained 

 by Mr. Tepper from the settlers, do not occur every year ; but one distinct species frequents 

 E. oleosa, but never numerously, although annually. 



EXPLANATION or ANALYTIC DETAILS. 1, an unexpanded flower, its lid lifted ; 2, longitudinal section of an 

 unexpanded flower ; 3, front-view of two stamens ; 4, back-view of a stamen ; 5, style and stigma ; 6 and 7, longi- 

 tudinal and transverse section of fruit ; 8 and 9, fertile and sterile seeds ; 10, embryo in situ ; 11, cotyledons slightly 

 unfolded, laying free part of the radicle ; 12, transverse section of embryo ; 13, portion of a leaf ; all magnified, but 

 to various extent. 



