131 



DESCRIPTION. 



CXLIL E. prcecox Maiden. 



> 



In Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W. xlviii, 423 (1914). 



Arbor pumila, ramie dependentibus. Cortex lsevis, maculata, secedens. Lignum pallidum et fragile. 

 Folia juvena lato-ovata et crassa. Folia matura petiolata, lanceolata ad lato-lanccolata ad fere ovata, 

 dilute virentia. Alabastra in umbellis glaucis, ovoidea in juvcntuto. Operculum conicum ct acuminatum, 

 calycis tubo leniter breviore. Florit in oetate lato-foliata vel juvenile. Fructus fere hemisphserici, circiter 

 •C cm. diametro, margine lato et rotundato valvarum spicibus distincte exsertis. 



A dwarf tree of drooping habit. Bark smooth, blotched and also ribbony. 



Timber pale-coloured and brittle, showing a tinge of reddish-brown, and possessing kino veins. 



Juvenile leaves broadly ovate, thick, coarse, venation very prominent, lateral veins at about an 

 angle of 45 degrees to the midrib, intramarginal vein far removed from the edge. 



Mature leaves petiolate, from lanceolate to broadly lanceolate and nearly ovate, pale green, and 

 the same colour on both sides, midrib prominent, lateral veins distinct but not prominent, intramarginal 

 vein well removed from the edge. 



Duds in glaucous umbels, ovoid when young, when riper operculum conical and pointed, a little 

 shorter than the calyx-tube, which tapers gradually into a short, thickish pedicel, the whole on a peduncle 

 of about "7 cm. 



Flowers not seen fully expanded. Unripe anthers appear to be similar to those of E. maculosa 

 of the same age. 



Fruits nearly hemispherical, about '6 cm. in diameter, rather abruptly set on the short pedicels, 

 rim broadish and domed, the tips of the valves distinctly exsert. 



i 

 Type from Capertee, N.S.W., J. H. Maiden and J. L. Boorrnan, March, 1901. 



This species, which does not appear to be a strong one, possesses characters in 

 common with E. maculosa R. T. Baker and E. rubida Deane and Maiden. 



It has a closer and general resemblance to E. maculosa, but the fruits are rounded 

 and the juvenile foliage is broad. That of E. maculosa is on the whole narrow, although 

 exceptionally it may be broadish. 



An outstanding character of the present species is that of the flowering, which 

 may take place while the leaves are in the broad or juvenile stage, and the specific name 

 is given in reference' to this. 



As regards New Sotith Wales, the only truly homoblastic species, so far as we know, 

 is the disappearing endemic E. pulvigcra, A. Cunn. There are, however, several species 

 in which the vegetative form, or the foliage characteristic of juvenility, persists for a 

 considerable time, the tree flowering frequently, and indeed usually, in this stage. 



