DESCRIPTION. 



LXVI. E. melliodora, A. Cimn., 



By Scliauer, iu Walpers' Repertormm Botanlces Sysle)natic(r, ii, 924' (1843). 

 Following is the original descrijition : — 



E. melludora A. Cuiin. Herb. No. 57: — .Schauer MS8. — Arboi'ea glaucesceus ; ramulis pendulis 

 terelib. ; foil, coiiaceis aiiguste lanceolatis subfalcatis in petiolura attenuates acuniinatis, raargine 

 incra.ssatis inipunctatis concolorib. opacis ; poduncalis axillarib. 3-5-floris petiolo duplo breviorib. 

 pedicellisq. compres.sis, his cupula paullo longiuiib. ; operculo coriaceo subhemisphaerico vix apiculato 

 cupula cbconica triente breviori. Foliorum lamina 2i-3 pollices loiiga, fi lin. circiter lata, pedunculus 

 3 lin. metiens, operculum 1 lineam altum cupulas coucolor flavescenti-virens. Flores mel redolentes. In 

 Novse Cambrise Australia plagis interioribus occidentem versus frequens. 



It was more fully described by Bentham in B.FI. iii, 210. The name " Bed 

 Gum," given to this tree on the authority of Adamson {loc. cit.) is erroneous and 

 arose out of local confusion with E. roslrafa, Schlccht. 



A specimen in Herb. Cant., ex herb. Lindl., is labelled : — " No. 71, Eucalyptus, 

 Xangus [Gundagai district, N.S.W. — J. II.M.], Yarra of the Natives." If the native 

 name be correctly applied, then E. melliodora bears it in addition to E. rostrata. 



The bark of the tree varies a good deal. Often sub-iibrous or "box-like," as 

 the Australian expression is, this fibrousness varies in texture, and also in the 

 distance up the trunk to which it extends. It is quite pardonable, especially in tlic 

 case of a stranger coming into a fresh district, to confuse E. melliodora with rostrata, 

 tereticornis, and even jjoZyrt;i///^;«os until a casual view of the trees has been checked 

 by a closer examination. 



There is a fairly full account of E. melliodora, with an illustration, in Part 

 IX of my " Forest Flora of New South "Wales," to which my readers may be 

 referred. 



E. melliodora is a very uniform species, taking it altogether, but sometimes 

 we have broadish leaves, and occasionally quite narrow leaves^ — e.g., from the Lachlan 

 and other parts of New South Wales. Leaves may be as small as 2-3 inches long 

 and -]s inch Avide. As the tops of trees arc approached it is very commonly the case 

 (not only as regards this species) that the leaves diminish in size. This is a precocious 

 flowering s^jecics, and when it (lowers in a shrubby state the leaves are often large. 

 It has glaucous and broader leaves in cold situations. 



As northern New South Wales is approached the sp)ecies has often coarser 

 fruits, and the timber is reputed jnore durable. In southern New South Wales the 

 trunks are often ringy, with shal;es throughout the log; but going nortli, straigliter 

 stems and belter logs are available. 



