554 



Speaking of E, erythrocorys, Part XLV, p. 135, I refer to ... . " four 

 equidistant riba or spoke-shaped processes which enclose four shallow troughs which 

 are filled with honey, and are therefore nectaries." These troughs are morphologically 

 formed by the raised wheel-shaped disc, and the upper portion of the calyx. There is 

 also a deep ovarian nectary around the base of the style. They can easily be seen in 

 the immature fruits of large species such as erythrocorys; pyrifortiws, macrocarpa. They 

 may be mere honey-troughs ; on the other hand, these discal surfaces secrete honey 

 (nectar) in other plants besides Eucalyptus. It appears to do so in that genus as well 

 as supplying storage reservoirs. 



In E. erythrocorys the nectar-trough or honey storage cavity may in addition 

 be a functioning nectary; that is to say, its carnose lining (variously known as " discal 

 lining."' "discal space," "'discal cavity") exudes or elaborates the nectar. In 

 E. robusta there are four or five deep ovarian nectaries, similar, but deeper than 

 those of E. Iilmdo) ta (which are closely related to E. erythrocorys). 



The matter is, of course, of direct practical importance to the apiarist, and for 

 that reason alone I hope that the flow r ers of Eucalyptus will be investigated in this 

 direction at an early date. 



Some general notes on the subject will be found on Eucalyptus flowers and 

 honey under A", hetnipkloia in my " Forest Flora of New South Wales," Part VI, p. 132. 

 In the same work we have " Notes as to the flowering periods of a few Eucalypts," 

 Part LXIY. p. 109, "Honey and Eucalyptus Flowers." The notes are enumerated 

 under States and species (p. 177-188.) There are useful articles on " Bee-keeping and 

 Forests," by -W. Somerville in " Jar rah," Aug., 1920, p. 19, and "Flowering of 

 Eucalypti " (W.A.) in " The Australian Forestry Journal," June, 1921, p. 173. 



Mr. .Max Koch told me that he has heard it said by orchardists that when 

 E. cnhjt/i i/ll(i is in full bloom, every other year or so, the fruit-crops are almost free from 

 the ravages of the Silver-eye (Zosterops goulddi) (great devourers of ripe fruit). The 

 same remark would probably apply more or less to the honey-laden blossoms of other 

 Corymbosic. 



Colour. 



Bentham (B.F1. iii. 1800) does not often mention colour. He had little 

 opportunity of doing so, as he could rarely have seen fresh filaments. He has — 



Pale-coloured " — E. hemiphloia, E. pachyhtna, E. patens. 

 " Dark-coloured "—& OldfieUU. 

 " i:i<hl\ -coloured "' — E. mmiata. 

 " I (range oi carle! " E. phcenicea. 



White or red" — E. tetraptera. 



Th<- genus Eucalyptus, which comprises about 350 species, comes second only 

 !'■"" m point oi number amongst Australian genera, but it is so widespread and 

 ibundanl thai it i the tnos1 numerous in individuals of any. The vast majority 



