42 



Before it is admitted into the Queensland Flora, specimens should he quoted. 

 It is very probable that Lsichhardfc observed it on Queensland territory on his 

 journey to Port Essington. It is, as Mueller points out, intermixed in the forest with 

 that species, which it resembles a good deal, and some of his " Melaleuca Gum," 

 referred to under E. miniata, may well include E. phcenicea, but this should bo 

 proved. 



AFFINITIES. 



1. With E. miniata A. Cunn. 



In habit E. miniata approaches nearest to E. phcenicea, whose companion it is in Anthem's Land 

 and around the Gulf of Carpentaria, agreeing with it much in its laminated, friable, easily separable 

 bark, which is, however, not persistent oa the main branches, also more grey and less brown-yellowish 

 outside ; it accords furthermore with E. phcenicea in the brilliancy of its flowers, thus forming quite an 

 ornament in the landscape, the name of the species being derived from the colour of the filaments like 

 that of red lead. The bark contains more woody ramifications than that of E. phcenicea, but likewise 

 reminds in external appearance and in fracture much of mica-schist, thus indicating for both these trees 

 in the cortical system a peculiar section, that of the Lepidophloia 1 , to which also E. psltata belongs. 

 E. miniata differs from E. phcenicea in taller, stature, in its branchlets, flower stalks, and calyces 

 being tinged with a whitish bloom, in generally broader leaves with less stomata above than below, in 

 umbels with less flowers, in the absence of distinct stalklets, in very angular and broader calyces, 

 proportionately longer lid, in more saturated orange-coloured filaments, longer anthers, larger, very woody 

 fruits, wLich latter arc lined with prominent ridges and open with three or four valve? ; the fertile seeds 

 are also larger. (" Eucalypti igraphia " under E. miniata.) 



. , . . To which (E. miniata) it is also closely allied in its cortical characters, E. phcenicea and 

 E. miniata standing in this respect quite apart from any other Eucalypt (unless E. melissiodora) , constituting 

 in the cortical system of the genus a peculiar section, that of Lepidophloice. The bark of both is very 

 lamellar and friable, outside of a yellowish or greyish-brown, on fracture partly glittering and somewhat 

 resembling mica-schist. In E. phcenicea the bark covers the lower branches, as well as the stem, 

 persistently, but it is easily pulled off, and is less interwoven with fibres than in E. miniata, whereas 

 also in the latter the bark persists on the stem only. (" Euealyptographia " under E. phcenicea.) 



There is no doubt that these two species have the closest affinity to each 

 other. In the bush they require to be carefully compared, so that we may receive 

 notes, made on the spot, by a competent observer, in regard to the habit, size of 

 tree, bark, and timber, of both species. 



The foliage of the two species is much alike ; perhaps that of E. phcenicea is 

 smaller and less coarse. 



The buds of E. miniata are coarser, more sessile, fewer in the head, and on a 

 strap-shaped peduncle. The branchlets and inflorescence arc more glaucous in the 

 specimens seen, but it should be locally observed whether glaucousucss is a differen- 

 tiating character. 



The colour of the filaments of E. miniata is perhaps more scarlet; they arc 

 coarser. The anthers resemble each other a good deal. The fruits of E. miniata 

 are larger and coarser. 



2. With E. cori/wbosa Sm. 



The urccolatc fruits suggest an affinity, while the barks of both E. phcenicea 

 and E. miniata undoubtedly display affinities to that of E. corymbosa and other 

 members of the Bloodwood group. 



