317 



DESCRIPTION. 



XXXV. Eucalyptus hcemastoma, Sm. 



Trans. Linn. Soc. iii (1797), 286. See also " Eucalyptograpliia " (Mueller), 

 following is the original description : — 



Operculo hemisphrerico depresso mucronulato, umbellis lateralibus, termiiialibusque : pedunculis 

 compressis, ramulis angulatis, fiuctu subgloboso. 



The leaves are coriaceous, lanceolate, terminating in a long linear point. 



Flowers in umbels, not capitula, their covers depressed at the top, but suddenly terminating in a 

 little point. 



Fruit globose, cut off at the summit, its orifice surrounded by a broad deep-red border. 



This species has a great affinity with the Leptospernium umbellntum of Gaertner, but T dare not 

 assert it to be the same. 



The type form. — 'I'lie species is found in two principal forms — a coarse 

 form (the type), :ind a slender one; the latter with small flowers and fruits, and 

 known as variety micrantha in consequence. 



As regards tlie ty[)e, the leaves, flowers, and fruits are alike larger, and the 

 leaves thicker, but, as a rule, the tree itself does not attain the magnitude of its 

 variety. 



With Bentham's amplified description of the species as given in B.Pl. iii, 

 212, I, in the main, agree, so that it will only be necessary to add a few notes. 



Vernacular names. — "White Gum " is the commonest and most appropriate name for this species. 



Bark. — Smooth, with a few ribbony flakes near the butt. 



Timber. — Red, and of an inferior character, though a fairly lasting timber for posts in the 

 districts in which it grows. 



Juvenile leaves. — Broadly lanceolate, somewhat similar in shape to the adult leaves, only larger ; 

 4 to 6 inches long by 1] inch broad, are measurements of some from the Sydney district. 



Mature leaves. — Coi-iaceous, thick, spreading, and veins very distinct, oblique, and several starting 

 from near the base of the leaf. As in the case of some other .species, the mature foliage of trees growing 

 close to the sea is very coarse and thick. 



Peduncles. — Angular and flattened. 



Caljx-tube. — Much longer than the operculum and insensibly tapering into the pedicel. 



Operculum. — Pointed when young, becoming more hemispherical as maturity is approached. 

 Often the buds may be described as clavate. 



Fruits. — Speaking generally, the shape of the fruits reminds one of a pear. The rim is more or 

 less domed and usually brownish or red (hence the specific name). I do not agree that, speaking at all 

 generally, " the capsule is slightly depressed," as stated at B.Fl. iii, 212. 



Pedicels not so thin, being more tapering than is the case with var. micrantha. 



•Sometimes the fruits are hardly pear-shaped, but this is unusual. We have some nearly 

 hemispherical, but much larger tlian those of var. micrantha. At the same time, there are fruits which 

 undoubtedly show transition between E. ha-mastoma and its variety micrantha. 



The anther is reniform and is figured at fig. 1 kl, plate 47. It seems to differ very little whether 

 typical or var. micrantha. 



