81 



Variety gracilis. 



3. E. gracilis, E.v.M. 



Fruticose; leaves coriaceous, alternate, shining, narrow-lanceolate, hooked-acuminate, a little oblique, 

 thinly veined-dotted ; unibels axillary and terminal pedunculate : flowers small, short-stalked ; lid blunt, 

 depressed-hemispherical ; tube of the calyx obconical, bell-shaped, a little broader and three times longer 

 than the lid ; fruit nearly hemispherical ; not contracted at the top ; valves of the capsule almost enclosed. 



In the desert on the Murray River, where it forms the mallee scrub, together with E. dumosa, 

 santalifolia and other species (Trans. Vict. Inst, i, 35, 1855). 



Miquel's description is in the following words : — 



3. E. gracilis, Ferd. Mull., E. perforata, Behr. Herb, partim ; arbuscula gracilis, ramulis teretibus 

 apice angulatis lanceolate linearibus vulgo subfalcatis in acumen vel apiculum uncinatum excurrentibus 

 glabris coriaceis crebro pellucido-punctatisj umbellis axillaribus et lateralibus 3-6 floris, calycis tubo 

 turbinate operculum depresso-hemisphcericum apiculatum triplo excedente. 



Ab E. amygdalina proxime affine differt foliis non venosis, ab E. ambigua operculo vix apiculato, 

 petiolis longioribus, umbellis pleramque 5-floris ab E. cneorifolia floribus breviter pedicellatis (Miiller). 



Frutex vel saepe arbuscula gracilis 5-8 pedum altitudinis, partem magnam fruticetorum extensorum 

 aliquot miliaria a fl. Murray remotorum sistens, restate florens, ramuli juniores rubri (F. Miiller Herb, et 

 observ. manuscript; Stuart Herb. Tasman. n. 3). Folia 2 poll, longa, 1-1 lin. lata. Calycis tubus pallidis 

 i-2 lin. lata (Ned. Kruidk., Arch. IV. 1856). 



C. Stuart's Tasmanian specimens No. 3 are E. amygdalina, Labill. I have 

 seen them. Miquel's statement that E. gracilis, E.v.M., is near to E. amygdalina, 

 Labill., applies with a good deal of force to Tasmanian specimens, the superficial 

 resemblances of herbarium specimens being frequently very considerable. 



The type of E. gracilis, F.v.M., is a South Australian specimen, and was 

 collected by Dr. H. Behr. It was labelled by Mueller in Herb. Melb. as 

 " Eucalyptus gracilis, Eerd. Muell., Murray Scrub., Dec, 1848, Behr, Nov. Holl. 

 Austr., Dr. Eerd. Muller." 



It will be observed that neither in Mueller's nor Miquel's description is there 

 any mention of an angular calyx which is so obvious a feature of the typical 

 E. calycogona, Turcz. 



It, however, passes by insensible gradations into the angular form. 



4. E. gracilis, E.v.M., var. breviflora, Benth. 



Calyx-tube scarcely angled, 11 to nearly 2 lines long. Fruit about 2 lines only, but the deeply-sunk 

 capsule and the stamens entirely as in the ordinary form, — Darling and Murray Desert, also F. Mueller's 

 Spencer's Gulf specimens, which being in fruit only are somewhat doubtful (B. Fl. Ill, 211). 



Bentham's specimens cannot be traced in Herb. Melb., but I am indebted to 

 Kew for a fine drawing of the original specimens (Plate 12) and for fragments of 

 the specimens which place its identity beyond doubt. 



I am of opinion that E. gracilis, E.v.M., and E. gracilis E.v.M., var. 

 breviflora, Benth., are so closely allied that it is impossible to separate them even as 

 two varieties. I think that they should form one variety readily noted by its 



