159 



Bentham (B.F1. iii, 203), thinks that— 



E. ambigua, DC. Prod, iii, 219, from the diagnosis taken from Labillardiere's specimen, may 

 perhaps be identical with E. amygdalina, Labill. var. nitida. 



There is no specimen at Kew. Mueller says it — 



May be a West Australian species, the somewhat leathery leaves, the compressed flower stalks, and 

 the almost globular fruit not really pointing to E. amygdalina. — (Eucalyptographia, under E. amygdalina.) 



A specimen from the Proclromus herbarium, lent me by M. Casimir De 

 Candolle, bears the following label : — 



E. ambigua, DC. Eucalyptus obliqua 1 (Mann Labillardieri). 

 Nouv. Hollande, Labillardiere (Manu DC. ei). Misit, 1808. 



I think it is probably E. amygdalina, tending to var. nitida, as suggested by 

 Bentham. 



T hare seen a specimen from Herb. Paris : " 26. Eucalyptus ambigua, 

 DC. Prod, iii, 219, ex Nova Hollandia. Specimen Billardieri comm. cl, Webb, Anno, 

 181:0." This is E. amygdalina, var. nitida. I bave also seen E. ambigua, Dehnhardt. 

 Specimens in flower and early fruit from Dehnhardt, Hort. Camaldul. in Herb. 

 Vindob. are Euc. amygdalina, var. numerosa. On the label Dehnhardt says the 

 species resembles E. elata {amygdalina, var. numerosa), but is satisfied that they are 

 different, and addressing (? Director of the Gardens at Vienna) adds, " Your superior 

 botanical knowledge will probably solve this puzzle." 



I have seen a fourth cultivated specimen. It is ex. Herb. Lindley in Herb. 

 Cant., and is labelled, " Eucalyptus ambigua," in Lindley's handwriting. It is in 

 flower and early bud, and seems to be E. stricta, Sieb., the venation perhaps a little 

 accentuated under cultivation. Leaves thick, lanceolate, veins very pronounced, 

 opercula pointed, pedicels flattened, anthers reniform. 



I think it may be accepted that E. ambigua, DC, is allied to E. amygdalina, 

 Labill., var. nitida. It may, however, be E. stricta, Sieb. : another of the Renan- 

 therse. Better material may be in existence. 



Bentham's var. (?) hypericifolia, (B.P1. iii, 203), of amygdalina is, in my 

 opinion, referable to E. Risdoni, var. elata. 



