497 



DESCRIPTION. 



L1II. E. melanophloia F.v.M. 



In Journ. Linn. Soc, in. 93 (1859). 

 Following is a translation of the original description : — 



Tree-like, branchlets tetragonal at the apes : leaves glaucous, seldom green, almost always hoary, 

 opposite, sessile, embracing at the base, cordate-ovate, finely penniveined and reticulate-veined, scarcely 

 pellucidly dotted, marginal vein obsolete: umbels paniculate or axillary, solitary, 3-6 flowered, calyx-tube 

 two or three times shorter than the angular peduncle, exceeding the length of the pedicel by a little, or 

 many times a little longer than the broadly conical, acute operculum: fruits semi-ovate or subpyriforni, 

 2-4 ribbed, orifice slightly contracted. 4-5 celled, valves inserted below the margin, somewhat included, 

 slightly convex; seeds wingless. 



Habitat. — From the mountainous region, Newcastle Range to Moreton Bay, plentifully associated 

 with E. crebra, characteristic of a rather barren soil (X. Hod. Sub-Trop. Mitchell; Moreton Bay, Moore; 

 Sydney "Woods, Paris Exhib. No. 66, in hb. Hook.). Flowers in spring. 



A small tree with an irregular trunk, bark persistent, thick, deeply furrowed, wrinkled, blackish. 

 Leaves li-3 inches long, 1-2 inches broad, obtuse or cuspidate-acuminate, sometimes cordate-lanceolate 

 or entirely cordate. Peduncles an inch long. Buds about 4 lines long. Capsules shortly or very shortly 

 pedicellate, 2-J— 4 lines long, convex at the vertex, seldom 6-celled. Fertile seeds angular-ovate, brown- 

 blackish, smooth, 1 line shorter. 



A small tree called " Silver-leaved Ironbark ' : by the settlers, to be easily recognised by its own 

 peculiar habit, but difficult to describe botanicallv owing to the variations of its floral characteristics and 

 its fruit. The luckless Leichhardt in his work (" Overland Expedition," &c), understood by this 

 above-mentioned name yet another species beyond the normal, very like this one, but differing in its dirty 

 white bark, very frequent round about the Gulf of Carpentaria and in north-west Australia. 



Affinity with E. pruinosa Schauer (non Turcz.). 



No description appeared when this species was formerly dealt with in 

 Part XII, p. 71, with Plates 53 and 54, so that Bentham's description will be useful : — 



A small tree with a blackish persistent deeply-furrowed bark (F. Mueller), the foliage more or less 

 glaucous or mealy-white. Leaves sessile, opposite, from cordate-ovate or orbicular to ovate-lanceolate, 

 obtuse or acute. Peduncles short, terete or nearly so, 3- to 6-flowered, axillary or several in a short 

 terminal corynib. Buds tapering into a pedicel shorter than the calyx-tube or almost sessile. Calyx-tube 

 slightly angular, about 2 lines long or rather more, and as much in diameter. Operculum obtusely conical, 

 shorter than the calyx-tube. Stamens 2 to 3 lines long, inflected in the bud; anthers very small and 

 globular, but the cells parallel and distinct. Fruit pear-shaped or globular-truncate, 2 to nearly 3 lines 

 diameter, more or less contracted at the orifice, the rim thin, the capsule nearly on a level with it, and the 

 valves slightly protruding, or more sunk with the valves included. (B.F1. iii, 220.) 



Leaf variation in this species has been dealt with at some length in Part XII, 

 p. 71. 



B 



