36 



8. Eucalyptus dextropinea, R. T. Baker. " Messmate or Stringybark." 



"A tree attaining a lieight from GO to 100 feet or higher, and a diameter up to 5 feet. Bark dark 

 or black on the outside, fibrous, and longer in fibre than tliat of the other species. Branches smooth 

 for a considerable distance down, but this feature varies. Leaves almost identical with those of 

 £. Icevopinea of this paper, and i-eserabling also those of E. ohliqua, L'Her., and E. Muelleriana, A. E. H. 

 Young leaves broad, rounded at the base, and very acuminate, opposite or nearly so, on a sliort petiole, 

 the venation well defined, the intramarginal vein being much removed from the edge. Mature leaves 

 lanceolate, falcate, acuminate often very oblique, shining on both sides, rather thick, the intramarginal 

 vein removed from the edge. Umbels axillary with about 8 flowers, peduncle flattened, operculum 

 hemispherical, shortly acuminate. Calyx-tube obconical, stalklet 4-6 lines long. Buds longer and larger 

 than those of E. la-vopinea. Anthers reniform, connected above by a prominent connective, valves 

 opening in longitudinal slits. Ovary flat-roofed. Fruits 4-6 lines in diameter, hemisplierical, truncate 

 to rounded, occasionally domed, rarely countersunk, valves slightly exserted. 



" Hab. — Monga, on granite formation, but in soil that is fairly rich (W. Bauerlen); Barber's Creek, 

 mostly in the gullies (H. Rumsey). 



"It is allied in some of its characters to E. ohliqua, L'Her., viz., the shape of the mature leaves, 

 venation, buds, and in one particular form of fruit which has a contracted orifice and countersunk rim, 

 but their sucker leaves are quite distinct, and the fruits are mostly hemispherical and usually with a, 

 thickened convex rim. The individual fruit figured by Baron von Mueller in his plate of E. ohliqua in the 

 Eucalyplographia, much resembles the fruit of this species. The timber, bark, and constituents of the 

 oils of the two species are quite distinct, but herbarium specimens of them might easily be considered 

 as belonging to one species. The form of the fruit referred to above is common also to E. pihilaris, 

 E. stricta, E. Miielleriana, E. piperita, but its other specific characters are too marked for it to be ranked 

 with any of these. It diff'ers from E. capilellata and E. macrorrhyncha in the nature of its timber, its fruits, 

 buds, bark, and oil. The leaves do not contain any myrticolorin. It bears in some respects alliance to 

 E. loivopinea, but the bark is more fibrous and persistent, the timber is inferior, the fruits never so 

 distinctly domed in the rim, and the valves much less promintnt. E. Muelleriana has a much superior 

 timber and a very difierent bark to E. dextropinea. The leaves of the former are shining only on one 

 side ; the fruits and buds are distinctly diflferent. It difliers from E. Icevopinea in the shape of its 

 fruits, its inferior timber and nature of its bark, and the chemical composition of its oil. The buds and 

 leaves are very similar ; in fact, are identical with several other species, and like the venation, no specific 

 diflference can be based on these parts of the eucalypt. As the investigations of cognate species are not 

 yet complete its exact systematic position cannot be given at present, but provisionally it might precede 

 E. ohliqua. 



'■ Timber. — A dark brown-coloured timbei'. Seasons very badly, and is evidently worthless. 



"Kino. — See remarks under E. Icevopinea." {Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., xxiii, 417.) 



For an account of the oil, supra, p. 27. 

 9. Eucalyptus Icevopinea, E. T. Baker. " Silver-Top Striugybark." 



" A very tall tree in favourable situations. Bark fibrous but brittle, a feature that distinguishes it 

 from that of " Red Stringybark," E. macrorrhyncha, F.v.M., and " White Stringybark," E. eugenioides, 

 Sieb. ; ultimate branches smooth. Young leaves alternate or scarcely opposite, broad at the base but not 

 cordate, acuminate, about 3 inches long, the intramarginal vein removed from the edge, the lateral ones 

 very distinct on the under side, scarcely showing on the upper surface. Mature leaves varying in size and 

 shape, mostly very oblique, of a dark green colour, and shining on both sides, lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, 

 the intramarginal vein removed from the edge, lateral veins fairly distinct. Petiole varying from -i to 

 1 inch. Umbels axillary bearing about 5 to 7 flowers ; stalk flattened, under an incli long, stalklet 

 varying from 3 to 8 inches long, lid hemispherical, shortly acuminate, calyx not angular. Stamens all 

 fertile, inflexed in the bud. Anthers divergent from the connective which surmounts them and is very 

 prominent, opening by longitudinal slits. Roof of ovary flat and free from the placenta. Fruits hemi- 

 spherical, petiolate ; the rim very variable, at first thick and flat, or truncate, and then, as it matures 

 gradually becoming exserted, and eventually quite domed, when it is not easy to distinguish it from 

 E. mncrorrliyncha, F.v.]\l. 



