EUCALYPTUS PREISSIANA. 



Sehauer, in Lehmann plantse Preissianse i. 131 (1844) ; Hooker. Botanical Magazine, t. 4266 ; F. v. M., fragmenta 

 phytographiae Australise ii. 38 ; iv. 52 ; Bentham, flora Australiensis iii. 232 ; B. pluriloeularis, P. v. M,, 

 fragmenta phytographiffi AustraliEe ii. 70. 



Shrubby ; branchlets stout, compressed-quadrangular ; leaves lanceolar- or ohiong- or hroad- 

 ovate, opposite or some alternate and then generally approximated in pairs, always conspicuously 

 stalked, of very thick consistence, of equal coloration on both sides ; their lateral veins much 

 spreading and rather remote, the circumferential one distant from the edge of the leaf ; oil-dots 

 copious, much concealed ; Vomers large, axillary, two or oftener three together on broad compressed 

 stalks, but hardly provided with any or but short and thick stalklets ; tube of the calyx semi- 

 ovate, gradually contracted at the base, not angular ; lid semiovate- or depressed-hemispherical, 

 slightly shorter than the tube of the calyx or sometimes only half as long ; stamens all fertile, 

 inflexed before expansion ; filaments pure-yellotv; anthers from cordate- to nearly oblong-ovate, 

 short-lobed at the base, opening by longitudinal slits ; style rather long ; stigma not dilated ; 

 fruits large, turbinate-semiovate, smooth ; space of the discal vertex from the edge to the valves 

 nearly or fully as broad as the orifice, slightly convex or oftener descending, severed from the 

 calyx-tube by a narrow furrow ; valves 5-6, rarely 4, short, deltoid, permanently connivent, not 

 protruding, surrounded by as many or twice as many depressed protuberances ; most sterile seeds 

 attaining nearly the size of the fertile seeds, all without any appendage. 



Restricted to South-Western Australia, occurring in the vicinity of King George's Sound and 

 at Cape Riche, thence extending at least as far as Stokes's Inlet (Maxwell) and Stirling's Range 

 (F. V. M.), occupying generally stony localities, showing a predilection for the limestone- 

 formation. 



A shrub, rising to a tallness of 15 feet, but flowering already when only a few feet high. 

 Branches of aged plants drooping. Leafstalks compressed, more or less twisted. Leaves 

 exceptionally narrow oblong-lanceolar or even somewhat sickleshaped, oftener of a shining 

 green than greyish-green ; the oil-dots of aged leaves usually quite obliterated. Flowerstalks 

 sometimes very much shortened, some finally by the lapse of leaves lateral. Calyx-tube when 

 young mostly obconical ; lid roundish-blunt or slightly and very seldom also sharply pointed. 

 Subterminal gland of the anthers conspicuous ; slits almost joining at the summit, or — when the 

 gland is less developed — quite confluent. Fruit assuming sometimes almost the shape of that of 

 E. cosmophylla, being less turbinate and more turgid at the base than usual, exhibiting a semi- 

 ellipsoid form, being also of smaller size, more generally 4-celled, and having the verrucular 

 prominences almost undeveloped ; in rare instances the fruit becomes quite bellshaped. Fruit- 

 vertex more or less descending. Wart-like elevations opposite to the dissepiments larger than 

 those opposite to the seed-bearing cells. Placental column conical- or oval-cylindrical, almost 

 twice as long as broad. Majority of seeds from nearly 1 to 1^ lines long, none very narrow. The 

 mutual similarity or even conformity of the fertile and sterile seeds place E. Preissiana so far near 

 the Renantheree, the broad sterile seeds occurring in but very few species outside of that group. 



This species remains always of bushy habit, and thus keeps manageable for glasshouse- 

 culture in colder countries, the foliage and particularly the bright-yellow filaments rendering it 

 well worthy of a place in ornamental collections. 



E. Preissiana is easily enough recognized among its congeners. In 1860 I alluded already 

 to its position near E. megacarpa ; and in the present work I have fully pointed out the marks of 



