59 



divergentibus, pedicellis elongatis multifloris, alabastris lineari-clavatis obtusis, cupellis (florentibus) 

 obconicis pedicellatis, operculo breviter heruispha?rico obtuso v. subacute maturo cupula requilata breviore, 

 capsula majuscula pedicellata obconico-hernisphanico v. turbinata ore paulo contracto v. subglobosa ore 

 valde contracto, — " stringybark " colonorurn. 



Eab. — Throughout Tasmania, very abundant, v.v.n. 



Arbor excelsa, 150-250 pedalis ; trunco basi nam, 20-26 ped. diameter. Rami ramulique gracileSj 

 elongati. Folia 4-6 unc. longa, 1— 2iV unc. lata. Alabastra angusta, elongata cupula bis-terve longiora. 

 (Hooker, f. in Lond. Joiirn. Bot., vi, 479, 1847.) 



This was amplified by Hook, f., in the following words : — • 



12. Eucalyptus gigantea ; arbor gigantea, ramulis gracilibus pendulis, foliis amplis gracile petiolatis 

 e basi ovata lanceolatis sensim acuminatis opacis basi valde inrequilateris costa distincta nervis diver- 

 gentibus, pedicellis elongatis niultiflorus, calycibus subclavatis pedicellatis, operculo breviter hemisphaerico 

 obtuso v. subacute, capsula majuscula pedicellata turbinata obconica hemisphserica v. subglobosa lignosa 

 ore subcontracto intus piano v. abrupte depresso, valvis inclusis. (Gunn., 1,095, 1,104, 1,106, 1,965, 1,966.) 

 (Tab. XXVIII.) 



Hal). — Abundant in most parts of the Island, forming a great proportion of the hill forests, 

 ascending to 4,000 feet. (Fl. Oct., Dec), (v. v.), " Stringy-bark Gum." 



Distrib. — South-eastern Australia. 



This forms a gigantic tree ; 'specimens have been felled in the valleys at the base of Mt. Wellington 

 300 feet high and 100 feet in girth, of which a full account is given in the " Proceedings' of the Royal 

 Society of Tasmania." It is also a most abundant species, and forms the bulk of the forests of the elevated 

 table-land of the interior and flanks of the southern mountains. It is difficult so to define its characters 

 that it shall be recognised by them ; but it is a well-known and readily distinguished species in the forest. 

 At all periods of growth it has a tall, straight trunk, and few terminal branches, never very leafy or 

 umbrageous. In some varieties the young branches have a fine glaucous-purple bloom on them, especially 

 in alpine localities ; such is the case with Mr. Gunn's No. 1,095, from the banks of Lake St. Clair, where it 

 forms a forest on one side of the lake only, to the exclusion of all other timber. 



Bark flaking off in stringy masses, used formerly by the natives for huts, canoes, <fcc. 



Braiiclllets slender, pendulous. 



Leaves broader than in most other species of this section, 4 — 7 inches long, ovate at the broad 

 oblique base, then lanceolate, and tapering to an acuminate point, surface not polished, nerves diverging. 



Peduncles, flower, and fruit so variable that it is difficult to characterise them ; usually the 

 peduncles are stout, woody, as long as the petioles ; the flowers very numerous, and forming a capitate 

 head ; the pedicels stout ; calyx turbinate ; operculum hemispherical. Capsule woody, gradually or 

 suddenly contracted at the pedicel, spherical or oblong obconic, with a contracted, not thickened, mouth, 

 and sunk valves. As in other species, I have found very great differences in the flowers and fruits from 

 upper and lower, older and younger, slender and stout branches. (The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage 

 of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror, 1839-43. Flora Tasmania. J. D. Hooker, I, 136). 1860. 



As already pointed out, E. obliqua, L'Herit., was not known to Hooker at 

 the time he wrote Fl. Tas., nor clearly to Mueller in Fragm. ii, 44, 45, where the 

 supposed differences between E. obliqua, L'Herit., and E. gigantea, Hook, f., are 

 discussed. See also Fragm. ii, 171, 172. I am not quite clear as to the precise 

 date when the identity of L'Heritier's species was placed beyond doubt. Mueller 

 ("Eucalyptographia") says, "As surmised by me (in the Fragmenta, ii, 45), it is this 

 very species which was collected during Fumeaux's voyage at Adventure Bay, and 

 this was proved subsequently by Mr. Rich. Kippist, who, at my request, compared 

 the original specimen in the Banksian collection." 



