191 



It may be described in the following words : — 



A tree of medium size, but often Howeriug as a tall shrub. 



Bark. — Rough, like a typical "Peppermint" with .smooth limbs somewhat ribbon)-. (Mr. A 

 Murphy, an experienced collector, says that, practically, he distinguishes this species from A', piperita by 

 the yellowish upper limbs, those of piperita being white.) 



Timber. — Pale-coloured, full of concentric gum (kino) veins. Tt would be difficult to get a sound 

 log of any size, and it is an almost worthless timber. 



Veriiacular Names. — It is usually kjiown as "Peppermint' throughout its range, and especially 

 so in the Western districts. It is called "Blue Peppermint" at Rylstone ; " Messmate" in the Southern 

 districts generally. 



Juvenile Leaves. — Comparatively broad (sometimes so broad as to be nearly orbicular) ; stem- 

 clasping, more or less cordate at the ba.se, and in .some cases quite acuminate. The shape is brought out in 

 the figure. Both juvenile and mature leaves reek with oil. 



Matnre Leaves. — Broadly lanceolate, nearly symmetrical, usually rather thick. Venation 

 spreading from the base. An important characteristic is the strongly marked venation. On drying, the 

 principal veins stand out in relief against the vascular tissue. Often shining, a characteristic best brought 

 out in fully mature leaves, but the foliage may be both dull and glaucous. 



Up to 5 or 6 inches is a common length for the leaves, but they are barely 3 inches in some of the 

 Bombala and Queanbeyan specimens ; 4i inches would appear to be an average length. Specimens up to 

 nearly 2 inches in width are found in Mount Vincent specimens ; \h inch is a common width ; 1-li inch 

 may be given as the average width. 



Buds. — Operculum usually blunt, though not quite hemispherical. In dried specimens the 

 operculum more pointed. Buds often glaucous. 



Flowers. — A profuse flowering species, with dense umbels of eight to twelve, and even more 

 flowers. Anthers reniform, the cells divergent and confluent at the apex. 



Fruits. — Sometimes nearly hemispherical with a greater or less tendency to pear-shape. The rim 

 often domed or arched. The tips of the valves occasionally a little exserted. The rims (mouths) usually 

 red, a characteristic often attributed to hmmastoma, and the fruit itself often pale-coloured ; may be very 

 shiny or glaucous. 



SYNONYMS. 



1. E. amygdalina, Labill. var. dives, F.v.M.. (In Herb. Melb., as already 

 alluded to.) 



2. E. amygdalina, Labill. var. latifolla, Deane and Maiden. Proc. Linn. Soc, 

 N.S.W., X, 609 (1895) with Plate Ivii. 



RANGE. 



This species is confined to New South Wales and Victoria so far as is known 



at present. 



Victoria. 

 It is only quite recently that it has been formally recorded from Victoria,* 

 but some of the specimens, which were fragmentary, referred to in that paper, 

 belong, in my opinion, to other species of the Renantherse. 



* "On the occurrence of Encidyjiliis dins, Schauer, in Victoria," by J. H. Maiden. — Vict. Nalnralist, xviii, 

 124 (1901). 



