19 



DESCRIPTION. 



CXVI. E. gomphocephala A. P. DC. 



Prod, iii, 220 (1828). 



Following is the description : — 



Opcrculo hemisphterico obtuso substriato cupula multo lafciore et fore longiore, pedunculia anticipi 

 tibus petioli longitudine subterhrinalibus, floribus 3-4 umbellato-capitatis, foliis lanceolatia acuininatU 

 coriaceis. Hab. in Nova-Hollandia. Operculum fere pileifoime, in raeis specimiuibus adhuc indehiscens. 

 Fetala o, stamina numerosissima. Fructus angulato-coropressua subturbinatus 4- 1 ocularis. Petioli 

 pollieem longi terctcs. Folia glauca, nervo medio unico'prominulo avenia 5 poll, longa poll. lata. 



It was figured in his " Memoire sur la Famillc des Myrtacees " {Mem. Soc. 

 Phys. et Mist. Nat. de Geneve ix, t.ll, 18A2), but no further particulars are given. 



It was described by Bentham at B.E1. iii, 231, and subsequently by Mueller 

 in the " Eucalyptographia." The drawing of the (immature) fruits in his plate is 

 unsatisfactory. 



The timber is pale coloured and of a yellowish cast. It is cut commercially 

 and resembles such timbers as E. leucoxylon and E. cladocalyx. The bark is sub- 

 fibrous (matted) reminding one of the " Box " trees (hemiphloia) of Eastern 

 Australia, except that the branches are not smooth and therefore have no ribbons. 

 The resemblance is closer to E. Stuartiana, "Apple tree" of Eastern Australia. 



The most obvious character of this species is the much greater diameter of 

 the operculum as compared with the calyx-tube (cupula). The original described 

 aptly alludes to it as " pileiform," reminding one of a mushroom. To have the 

 operculum of greater diameter at all, no matter how little, is unusual in Eucalyptus. 



Mueller quotes E. robusta and E. Watsoniana in this comparison, and also 

 E. cladocalyx {corynocalyx) and E. urnigera. 



One may add E. oleosa', torquata, incrassata, goniantha, Griffiths!,, but in no 

 case is the character so marked as in E. gomphocephala. 



The especially strap-shaped common peduncle, with the young buds, almost 

 sessile, arranged along the broad top, and not at one point, so as to give the 

 appearance of an umbel when young, gives the young buds a peculiar appearance. 



Such an arrangement may be also seen in E. obcordata var. nutans and 

 E. redunca. 



The fruits arc large, bell-shaped, and therefore dilated at the orifice ; they 

 are usually ribbed, as is often seen more or less in fruits of the genus. 



The name universally given to this tree and its timber is Tuart ; it is of 

 aboriginal origin, and it was originally spelled Tewart. 



