DESCRIPTION, 



This is the first species of Eiicalyj^tus knowu to science, it liaviug Lccn originally 

 collected by David Nelson, assistant botanist on Cook's '1 bird Voyage (1770-9), and 

 described by L'lleritier in 17S8. At the time of its collection, and for long after- 

 wards, Tasmania uas looked upon as part of Australia; moreover, like other early 

 species, it was badly described, and the specimens themselves were imperfect and not 

 easily accessible. The result was that it was not recognised, imtil the sixties, that 

 E. ohliqua is the common Tasmanian stringybark. Hooker, in his Flora of Tasmania, 

 was not aAvare of its identity, and consequently in that classical work it is not 

 mentioned, but a new species, U. gigantea, takes its place. 



Eollowing is the original description by L'Heritier : — 



Eucalyptus. — Perianthiuni : Operculum superum, integerrinium, trunc;ituiii. l\'talum : Cahptra 

 oln'crse liPinispluwica, margini calcycis imposita, ante anthesin discedens. 



Filaiiienta nuinerosissiina, calyci inserta. Geniien inferuui, turbinatum. Stylus unicus. Capsula 

 .suljquadrilocularis, apice duntaxat dehiscens. Seruina plurima aiigulata. 



Eucalyptus obliqua, Tab. 20. Habitat in Nova Cambria. Nelson. Giiil. Anderson (L'Herit. Sert. 

 Angl., 1). 181 



A reproduction of the figures accompanying the description will be found at 

 Plato 5. 



I have seen a specimen labelled " E, obliqua, V. D. Land., D. Nelson, ex. 

 herb. Lambert " in Herb. Cant. It is in leaf only. 



The following description of JE. obliqua from Sir J. E. Smith's " Specimen 

 of the Botany of New Holland," p. 43 (London, 1793) is interesting as an example 

 of the brief descriptions formerly deemed to be adequate, and may be convenient 

 for reference : — 



E I iculyjitus ohliqua, operculo hemisphivrico mucronulato, unibcllis lateralibus solitariis ; peduneulis 

 ramulisque teretibus. Lid liemisphorical, with a little point. Umbels lateral, solitary; llowei'-stalks and 

 young branches round. 



Syn. E. ohliqua, Ait. Ilort. Kcw. v. 2, 157, L'Herit. Sert. Angl. t. 20. 



From tlie only specimen we iiavc seen of this, which is in .Sir Joseph ]5anks' licibariiiin, it appears 

 tlie branches are all round to the very top. General flowering stalks round, the partial ones only slightly 

 angulai', not compressed, liark rough from the scaling off of the cuticle, but this niav be an unnatural 

 appearance. Leaves ovatedanc(>olatc, aromatie, but without the flavour of peppermint. 



