200 



DESCRIPTION. 



CLIV. E. Kirtoniana F.v.M. 



In Part I of the " Eucalyptographia " (1879). 



Following is the history of Mueller's species, beginning with the two published refer- 

 ences made by him:— 



1. "In the Illawarra district occurs a tree which attracted great attention in India, not only because 

 of its rapid growth, but also as it proved the best species there to cope with the moist tropical heat. This 

 tree has been cultivated at Lucknow by Dr. Bonavia, who recorded that it attained in the best soil 12 feet 

 in two years ; it was there considered to belong to E. resinifera. It differs, however, from that species in 

 having the leaves of equal colour on both sides with more prominent veins, the intramarginal veins more 

 distant from the edge ; thus in venation, as also in odour of f oUage and fruit, the tree in question approaches 

 E. rdbusta, but its fruit is certainly similar to that of E. resinifera, wanting, however, the broadish outer 

 ring around its orifice characteristic of the typical E. resinifera, while the lateral veins of the leaves are 

 not quite so transversely spreading as in either. If really specifically distinct, the tree might be named 

 E. Kirtoniana in honour of its discoverer." (Mueller's " Eucalyptographia," under E. resinifera.) 



2. " A quick growing tree, rare in the Illawarra district, which at Lucknow attained a height of 45 

 feet in ten years, and which as a species or variety I distinguished as E. Kirtoniana, is in flowers and fruit 

 nearer to E. resinifera than to E. robusla, but has the leaves of almost equal colour on both sides, thus far, 

 and also in shape, more resembling those of E. tereticomis, while the bark, unlike that of E. saligna, is 

 persistent. The stomates of E. Kirtoniana vary on the upper side of the leaf between 33,000 and 43,000, 

 and on the lower page from 95,000 to 166,000 on a square inch, this great fluctuation being attributable 

 probably to the age of the tree. It is particularly noticeable on account of its adaptability to a warm wet 

 clime, and grew under Dr. Bonavia's care better than any other species in Oude ; the technic value of its 

 timber remained unascertained." {Op. cil. under E. rohusla.) 



The first reference is in Part I of the " Eucalyptographia ; ' (1879). Indeed, 

 under E. hannastonm in the same work, Mueller definitely gives the date 1879 for 

 E. Kirtoniana. The second reference is in Part VII. Later on (in some editions of 

 his " Select extra-tropical plants ") Mueller obviously looked upon it as a form of 

 E. resinifera. 



The description is unsatisfactory as measured by modern standards, but it is 

 backed by herbarium specimens, and so, whatever the opinions of botanists as to its 

 relationships may be, we know precisely the plant to which Mueller referred. 



The specimens seen by me are labelled as follows :— 



1. " E. punctata, DC. (E. Kirtoniana F.v.M.). Kirton, Illawarra." A piece from 



the Melbourne Herbarium, received from the late Mr. J. G. Luehmann. 



2. " E. punctata (E. Kirtoniana, F.v.M.). Lucknow, India. (Cult.)" 



3. " Lucknow. Comm. Dr. Brandis, July 1877." 



