[Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 31 (N.S.), Part II., 1919]. 



Art. XIII. — Notes on Eucatypt Leaves occurring in the 

 Tertiary Beds at Bulta. 



By R. T. PATTON, B.Sc. 



(With One Text Figure). 

 [Read 7th November, 1918J. 



The fossils occur in a fine nmdstone beneath the neAver basalts 

 These leaf beds were found by Mr. James, B.Sc, last year, and 

 contain many other leaves besides those of Eucalypts. These leaves, 

 are small, narrow and pointed, which indicafes rather adverse con- 

 ditions of life. These leaves are too simple for any identification, 

 work. Besides the leaves, casts were found which appeared to be 

 of a lycopodinaceous character, and other casts appeared to be- 

 those of crushed stems. I he beds appear to have been laid down, 

 along the banks of the stream. The Eucalypt leaves appear to> 

 belong to one general type. We must bear in mind, when dealing.- 

 with fossil Eucalypts, the widie variability of the genus at the pre- 

 sent day, and although we cannot say whether this variability 

 existed in geological times, still it must not be left out of accounts 

 It is recognised that to differentiate Eucalypts on herbarium 

 material is often impossible. 



In the Geol. Survey Records, Vol. I., are given, by H Deane^ 

 M.A., some figures of fossil Eucalypt leaves from Berwick. Some 

 of these do not possess sufficient differences to be classified) as 

 different species. These belong more or less to two general types- 

 of leaves. Eucalyptus praecoriacea forms an exception. This ifr 

 a very doubtful Eucalypt. 



All of the leaves from Bulla belong to one general type. I do- 

 not think we are justified in making species out of material which* 

 all conforms to a general type. 



The leaves are moderately broad, lanceolate and slightly falcate^ 

 The marginal vein is moderately removed from the edge, and is- 

 only slightly indented. The lateral veins diverge at an angle of 

 about 50®, and are not widely distant apart. The leaf is approxi- 

 mately symmetrical. The margins gradually fade into the petiole 

 and do not meet it abruptly. 



Taking these casts generally they do not differ very much from- 

 those figured in Vol. I., Geological Survey Records. Tlie Bulla 

 leaves bear a resemblance to those of E. rostrata, which is found 



