65 



Kinney, 1895. — Abbot Kinney ("Eucalyptus," Los Angeles, Cal., p. 23, 1895), 



says 



Mr. L. Stengel, an experienced and careful nurseryman, is of opinion that Eucalyptus has a strong 

 tendency to hybridise. He then refers to certain seedlings obtained from a sowing of reputed E. robusta 

 seed : — " The vast majority were true to the parent tree. . . . One specimen was identical with 

 globulus, several were like amygdalina var. regnans ; in fact, about fifteen distinct species apparently came 

 from these robusta seed." This is not evidence of hybridisation, but of mixed seed; at the same time 

 I have seen Californian specimens which, in my opinion, indicate hybridisation. (Maiden, 1904, p. 303.) 



Cambage, 1900. — R. H. Cambage : — 



In view of the prominence given to the question of hybridisation of Eucalypts by Messrs. Deane 

 and Maiden in the Proc. Linn. Soc, vol. xxv, p. Ill, where they deal with E. affinis, which grows among 

 E. sideroxylon and E. albevs. also with another tree growing among E. siderophloia and E. hemiphloia at 

 Homebush and Liverpool, it occurred to me that if cross-fertilisation exists between the above trees, the 

 same sort of thing may take place in other species, notably between E. sideroxylon and the western Box 

 tree recently described by Mr. R. T. Baker as E. Woollsiana. Knowing that I should meet with these 

 two species growing together in several places, I decided to make diligent search for trees which would 

 answer the required conditions of hybrids. After coming into the Ironbarks and Box a few hundred 

 yards, these trees were found which seem intermediate in every respect between E. sideroxylon and 

 E. Woollsiana both in the colour and texture of the bark and wood, as well as in the size of the fruits, 

 which are larger than those of E. Woollsiana, but smaller than those of E. sideroxylon. This doubtful 

 looking tree was found again several times before reaching the Lachlan, but never in great numbers, and 

 invariably associated with the same two species. These are points of circumstantial evidence which 

 suggest hybridisation. 



He proceeds to discuss the flowering periods of Eucalypts in relation to 

 hybridisation, a subject touched upon somewhat casually by the Rev. Dr. Woolls some 

 years before {Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., xxv, p. 716). 



Cambage, 1901. — Reference to a supposed hybrid box in the Condobolin district 

 (E. sideroxylon x E. Woollsiana) (ib., xxvi, 324). 



A supposed hybrid between E. sideroxylon and E. hemiphloia var. albens, and 

 discussion of E. affinis Deane and Maiden, a reputed hybrid, and which Mr. Cambage 

 stated had been under his notice for about ten years (p. 691). 



Cambage, 1902. — A supposed hybrid between E. sideroxylon and E. Woollsiana 

 at Barmedman (ib., xxvii, 195). 



Baker and Smith, 1902. — Messrs. Baker and Smith, " Research on the Eucalypts," 

 p. 15 (1902), under the heading " Hybridisation," say : — 



Some attention has been given to this subject, but so far without any measure of success, as it 

 appears difficult to understand how natural hybridisation pertains in the origin of Eucalyptus species, 

 the essential organs being protected by an operculum, and in almost every instance pollen grains are 

 found adhering to stigmas before the operculum falls off. 



Baron von Mueller at one time did not regard hybridisation as impossible, but thought that all 

 ordiary chances are against it, for he states " Hybridism does not seem to explain the origin of these 

 aberrant forms (this investigation shows that most of these supposed aberrant forms are really distinct 

 species) in a genus, where cross-fertilisation is guarded by a calcyine lid." (" Eucalyptographia," under 

 E. cordata.) 

 B 



