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Varieties. 



(1) The small-fruited form (variety micrcmtha). 



Vernacular names. — " White Gum " is a very common name. It, however, in one or other of 

 the many districts in which it occurs, usually goes under some name referring to the softness or brittleness 

 of its timber, e.g., " Cabbage Gum," " Snappy Gum," " Brittle Gum," " Brittle Jack." 



Bark. — Smooth, right to the ground. The colour of the bark is usually white, but sometimes, 

 particularly in localities comparatively remote from the sea, the bark is at certain seasons of the year 

 yellowish. I have seen the trunk as yellow as if washed with yellow ochre. Away from the sea, also, the 

 bark appears to have a greater tendency to peel off in patches, giving it more or less a spotted appearance. 



Timber. — Soft, red. An excellent timber for fencing posts, and in some districts, especially the 

 southern table-land, preferred for this purpose. At the same time, excellence is comparative, and in the 

 coast districts we find other timbers of special merit. 



Juvenile leaves. — Nearly ovate, then nearly oblong (rounded at both ends), and with crenulate 

 margins. As growth proceeds, they become attenuate at both ends and somewhat falcate. 



The seedling leaves tend to be vertical, and therefore are equally green (blue-green) on both sides. 

 The twigs are red, as also in mature specimens. Venation less acute than in E. Sieberiana. 



They then become alternate, ovate-lanceolate, very acuminate, a little oblique, up to 6 inches long 

 and 2* inches broad. The intramarginal vein much removed from the edge. From this stage the foliage 

 gradually develops into the mature stage. 



Mature leaves. — These vary somewhat, which is not a matter for surprise, considering the 

 extensive range of the tree. They are often thick and glossy. Those from Bargo Brush are of this 

 character, and 51 inches long and 1 to 1 1 broad. Those from Queanbeyan are narrow-lanceolate. Some 

 in the Sydney district are quite small, usually not exceeding 3 by £ inch. The foliage of many trees in 

 the Mudgee district is quite sparse. In the Macleay and Hastings districts the trees frequently have 

 broadish, lanceolate long leaves up to 7 inches by 1J. Sometimes the leaves are hooked at the ends, a 

 character more general in Eucalypts than was at one time supposed. 



But there is no doubt that the leaves of this form pass insensibly into those of the normal species. 

 Specimens from the Blue Mountains (e.g., Alt. Victoria) show this transition very clearly. 



Operculum. — Nearly hemispherical or with a small umbo ; perhaps less pointed than in the 

 typical form. 



Fruits. — The fruits are usually as flat-topped (they are but rarely slightly domed) as in any species 

 of Eucalyptus, and therefore are not satisfactorily represented in the figure of E. hcemastoma in the 

 " Euealyptogiaphia." The fruits are small, nearly hemispherical, rarely tapered below, have thin pedicels, 

 and are usually numerous. Some from Queanbeyan are a % of an inch in diameter. Those from Bargo, ifec. 

 have fiat tops and sharp rims. Some from the Mudgee district and South Coast afford instances of slight 

 doming of the fruits. Occasionally they are depressed hemispherical — almost tazza-shaped. They are 

 often pale-coloured and with markedly red mouths. 



I have fruits from Mt. Wilson which, though quite small, taper like those of normal hcemastoma, 

 and are in some respects connecting links. 



Size. — Usually 30 or 40 feet in height, with a trunk diameter of 2 or 3 feet. 

 Mr. Andrew Murphy, in sending me specimens from Morisset, has tried to 

 differentiate between the type-form and the small-fruited form in the following 

 words : — 



" 1. Broad-leaved White Gum, similar to narrow-leaved variety in appearance, 

 much larger tree, generally grows in high dry country. Both these Gums 

 are similar to JE. coriacea. Large fruits." 



" 2. Narrow-leaved White Gum. A very white bark to the ground. Straight 

 tree. Small fruits." 



