306 



DESCRIPTION. 



XXXIII. Eucalyptus Sieberiana, F.v.M. 



Described and figured in " Eucalyptographia," Decade ii (1879). I have 

 seen the type, and the fruits depicted are not quite satisfactory. It is very rarely 

 that the fruits are so small as shown on the plate, nor is the drawing of them good. 



This is the species referred to as E. virgata, Sieh. (B.E1. iii, 2021, in part. I 

 would suggest consideration of my remarks on this suhject in Part IX, p. 275, of 

 this work. 



It may he described as follows : — 



Vernacular names. — " Mountain Ash " is its usual name. It attains its greatest luxuriance in 

 mountain districts, and its timber is thought to resemble Ash. It is sometimes called "Black Ash," but 

 this name should be reserved for E. stelhdata. In Tasmania it is sometimes called "White-top Ironbark," 

 but in that State there are no true Ironbarks. It has been also called Blackbutt, but that name should 

 be reserved for E. pilularis. It was called " Yowut " by the aborigines of the Gippsland District, 

 according to Howitt. It has been called "Messmate" or " Sti ingybark " at the Dromedary, N.S.W. ; 

 but the use of such names for this species is to be deprecated. 



liai'k. — In young trees the bark somewhat resembles " Stringybark " when viewed from a little 

 distance. Hence the tree has been sometimes called Stringybark with a qualifying adjective. In older 

 trees the bark becomes denser, darker coloured, more furrowed, and rugged in character. The casual 

 observer might be excused if he took the tree for an "Ironbark," but a closer examination would show the 

 bark to be neither dense nor tough enough. The small branches are smooth. 



The smooth bark of saplings appears always to be glaucous. 



Timber. — Pale-coloured and fissile, less variable perhaps than that of many of the Eucalypts. Very 

 suitable for inside work, but not durable when not protected from the weather. 



Juvenile leaves. — The seedling leaves are vertically arranged ; of the same colour on both sides ; 

 glaucous, and larger than those of E. piperita. The venation is rather acute with the midrib. Seedling 

 and sucker leaves are glaucous, dull-coloured on drying, and have the veins more spreading than is the 

 case in the mature foliage. 



Mature leaves. — The leaves are usually smooth, shining, and coriaceous ; they are more or less 

 falcate. The venation is spreading. 



Leaves from Mt. Wilson in the west and Barber's Creek in the south are hooked ; probably this 

 will be found to be no unusual character. 



Kuds clavate. 



Operculum. — Hemispherical or slightly umbonate. Pale-coloured opercula are often observed in 

 the Blue Mountains. Double opercula sometimes occur in this species. 



Inflorescence. — Frequently ocellate ; this is sometimes a useful guide in distinguishing this from 

 allied species. 



Fruits. — Pear-shaped, usually a little oblique, the rim sometimes slightly concave, particularly 

 when ripe. Edge of rim frequently sharp. Sometimes the plane of the rim is not at right-angles to the 

 axis of the fruit. Shining. The rim usually well defined and often dark as in E. hcemastoma. 



Notes supplementary to the description. 



There is a narrow-leaved form, both at the Sugarloaf Mountain (Draidwood) 

 and at the Dromedary. Tasmanian specimens appear to have longer, narrower, and 

 more falcate leaves. There is a broad-leaved and very glaucous form in the Snowy 

 Mountains. 



