PRELIMINARY NOTE. 



This Part mainly deals with the Stringybarks, which are recognised by every systematic 

 botanist as being specially difficult. They afford an admirable instance of the protean 

 character of Eucalyptus. No character in this group, at least, be it juvenile or mature 

 leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, timber, can be relied upon as absolute. One must adhere 

 to the type as closely as possible, and, as regards aberrant forms, indicate their 

 affinities. 



I do not wish to repeat myself at this place, and would refer my readers to my 

 remarks on individual specimens in regard to aberrant forms. Eucalyptus trees vary 

 according to the geological formations on which they are grown, and to the climate, 

 apart from their innate tendency to vary. Then hybridisation jDlays an important part, 

 though largely unrecognised by botanists even yet. I have dealt with these aspects 

 of the subject at some length at p. 243. 



