219 



DESCRIPTION. 



E. Muelleriana, Hewitt. 



(For Description, Synonomy, Range, &c., see Part I, as E. pilularis, var. Muelleriana.) 



In dealing with the Stringybarks, I have been vainly looking for characters 

 which will differentiate all forms. For example, I have endeavoured to separate 

 them by the seedling or juvenile leaves (width, and the presence or absence of 

 stellate hairs). But I find that these characters, like all others in Eucalypts, vary. 

 The state of ripeness of the fruits counts for much, the state of being capitate counts 

 for little in classification. The juvenile leaves of Stringybarks (viz., JE. capitellata, 

 macrorrhyncha, eugenloides, Micelleriaiia) appear to be beset Avith hairs, more or 

 less, — Muelleriana, perhaps, least of all. Those of E. eugeniokles are usually 

 narrowest. Those of E. capitellata and E. macrorrhijncha are broader, though the 

 latter are usually narrower than the former. Those of E. Muelleriana vary much 

 in width, and are sometimes very narrow. "The extremely shiny upper surface" 

 of the leaves of this species (Howitt) characteristic of the type, unfortunately for 

 purposes of classification, breaks down in some of its forms. 



An instructive series of specimens was collected by Mr. A. W. Ilowitt, — 

 (a) Armidalc, New South Wales, with narrow juvenile foliage; (b) between 

 Chandler and Styx Rivers : " Up to 50 feet, bark stringy to smaller limbs and 

 branches." This has juvenile foliage of intermediate width, (c) Styx River and 

 Armidale: "A Stringybark tree, tall, up to 60 or 70 feet." The opposed juvenile 

 leaves up to one inch and a half wide ; (a), (b), (c) belong to the same species ; the 

 transition betAveen them is evident. 



I have received from Mr. A. W. Ilowitt seedlings and other juvenile foliage 

 of his typical E. Muelleriana, from Long Cutting, Tambo River, Victoria. The 

 seedling leaves are half an inch in diameter, while the juvenile leaves, still in tlie 

 opposite stage, are an inch and a quarter broad, with the stellate hairs so common 

 in the Stringybarks. I cannot point out any differences between these juvenile 

 leaves and those of the New South Wales (a), (b), (c) just referred to. The leaves 

 of (a) are as narrow as those of E. eugenioides, Avhile those of (c) are broader than 

 those of E. Muelleriana were formerly supposed to be. Examining them from all 

 points, I am of opinion that different botanists may look upon them as belonging to 

 E. eugenioides, or to a small-fruited form of E. Muelleriana. 



E. Muelleriana appears to have a number of associated forms closely related 

 to it, and, for that and other reasons, I think it is better to look upon it as a species, 

 and not as a variety. I, therefore, modify my views as to the rank of E. Muelleriana , 

 as expressed in Part 1 of this ^vork. 



