244 



DESCRIPTION. 



E. sepulcralis, F.v.M. 



In Dec. viii " Eucalyptographia " (1882). 



I have no specimens other than a portion of the type, and have nothing to add 

 to the description as given in " Eucalyptographia." 



But I would point out that the precise position of this species is still 

 unknown, and will remain so until seedlings are raised. I trust, therefore, that 

 seeds will soon he again available. 



Mueller places it next to E. huprestium while drawing attention to the 

 anthers, which are indeed one of the connecting links between the Eenantherse and 

 the Parallelantherre. I would suggest that the true affinity may he with E. 

 erythronema, Turcz., from which it is sharply separated by the fruits; but leaves, 

 anthers, and even huds show resemblance. 



Work to show the affinities of the species of this extensive and perplexing 

 genus is much desired. At present many of the species have been described without 

 due reference (often data were not available) to their congeners. 



The limitations of .Morphology and record of Oil-constituents considered 

 in regard to the determination of species of Eucalyptus. 



I think I have fairly shown that the present group of species, the Stringybarks, 

 exhibits variation in a most marked degree. It is, therefore, opportune to again* 

 deal with the subject of variation in the genus. Darwin has uttered the dictum 

 that species of the larger genera in any country vary more than the species of the 

 smaller genera. f Experience with the large genus Eucalyptus certainly bears out 

 the truth of this dictum. Hooker's paper % may be profitably studied in this 

 connection. 



Variation can be studied from three standpoints : 



1, Selection ; 



2, Hybridisation, or crossing ; 



3, Mutation ; 



and all of them, in my view, are operative in the genus Eucalyptus, accounting in 

 varying degree for the innumerable variations so far observed. 



* See, for example, "Is Eucalyptus variable? " Proc. Roy. Soc. X.S. W., xxxvi, 315. 



t Origin of Species, chapter ii. 



^ "On the General Phenomena of Valuation in the Vegetable Kingdom. " Introductory essay to Flora oj Tasmania, v 



