A 



EUCALYPTUS FICIFOLIA. , 



E. V. M., fragmenta phytographiae Australia ii. 85 (1860) ; vi. 25 (1867) ; Bentham, flora Australiensis iii. 256 (1866) ; 

 F. V. M., Eeport on the Forest-resources of Western Australia p. 5, pi. 3 (1879). 



Tall ; leaves scattered or some almost opposite, broad- or ovate-lanceolar, or some nearly 

 ovateTut always acute, rigid, almost equilateral, dark-green above, much paler and not shining 

 beneath; veins subtle, almost transversely spreading, closely parallel, the circumferential vem 

 nearly contiguous to the slightly recurved edge of the leaf ; oil-dots concealed or obliterated ; 

 umbels usually 4- to 6-flowered, terminal, mostly paniculated ; their stalks conspicuous, nearly 

 cylindrical ; calyces large, pearshaped, on slender stalklets of about equal length, not angular ; 

 lid thin, very depressed, many times shorter than the tube of the calyx and only about half as broad; 

 filaments crimson, all fertile, inflexed and dependent while in bud ; anthers ovate-ellipsoid, opening 

 with longitudinal slits ; stigma not dilated ; fruits large, urnshaped-ovate, 3- to 4-celled ; rim 

 narrow ; valves deeply enclosed, deltoid ; fertile seeds pale-brown, terminated by a long membranous 

 appendage, much larger than the mostly narrow sterile seeds. 



From the western side of Irwin's Inlet to the entrance of the Shannon, constituting a distinct 

 forest-belt in the coast-region, though not actually approaching the sea-shore, v * f Ai^Y tU^ . 



An umbrageous tree, seldom exceeding a height of 50 feet. Bark persistent, furrowed. 

 Branchlets rather stout. Leaves provided with conspicuous stalks, somewhat of leathery thick- 

 ness, turning more the surface than the edge to the zenith, seldom narrow-lanceolar, occasionally 

 more shortened, always somewhat decurrent into the stalk, pointed at the apex and sometimes 

 narrowly so. Calyces slightly tinged with red ; the transverse line of dehiscence at first not very 

 distinct ; lid of very thin consistence, |-^ inch broad, adhering often for some time after the 

 expansion of the stamens to the tube of the calyx. Filaments beautifully cinnabar-red, occa- 

 sionally verging to a lighter coloration, but never very pale. Anthers notTaJFgelBr the size of 

 the flowers ; filaments not very thin. Style long and slender. Fruit 1 to 1^ inches long, faintly 

 streaked ; its orifice downward not contracted ; valves at first flatly converging, at last quite 

 descending. Appendage of the seeds about as long as the nucleus or even longer, decurrent 

 along the back of the kernel, transparent, of a slightly brown tinge. 



The specific name of this gorgeous tree was chosen before the brilliancy of its fiowers was 

 known, and alludes to the similarity of the leaves to those of Fig-trees of the series of Ficus 

 elastica, the principal Caoutchouc-tree of India. 



E. calophylla is the only species, to which E. ficifolia bears very close alliance, and both 

 might on account of their bark be placed in the series of Bloodwood-trees, among which E. corym- 

 bosa and E. Abergiana show moreover resemblance as regards leaves, disposition of flowers and 

 structure of fruits. The characteristics, by which E. ficifolia can be distinguished from E. calo- 

 phylla, are as follow : The tree is of less height, the bark is somewhat more deeply furrowed, the 

 leaves are proportionately not quite so broad but longer, the fiowers are mostly larger, the 

 calyces assume a reddish hue, the filaments are of a splendid crimson, the fruits less turgid, 

 while the seeds are much paler in color, have a smaller kernel and are provided with a conspicuous 

 appendicular membrane. Irrespective of this a very marked difi'erence in the seedlings i-s 

 observable, as those of E. ficifolia show only slightly or not at all the bristly roughness of 

 E. calophylla, nor are the seedling-leaves inserted above their base to the stalk as in that species. 



If it were necessary to point out any diff'erences of E. corymbosa and B. Abergiana, we need 

 only aUude again to the color of the stamens ; — besides E. corymbosa has its fiowers and fruits 



