27 



It niav be described in the following words : — 



A shrub or medium-sized tree ; rarely a very large tree. Sometimes Mallee-like, but not a true 

 Mallee. 



Bark. — It is often of that peculiar character known as " Peppermint." It is very commonly 

 intermediate in character between that of an Ironbark and a Box, hence tbe name " Ironbark Box," which 

 is sometimes applied to it in New South Wales, and which is descriptive. The height to which the scaly 

 or sub-fihrous bark occurs up the trunk varies. 



Timber. — This varies somewhat ; but it is brown in colour, hard, and inlocked. 



Juvenile leaves. — Rather narrow, from linear to broadly lanceolate; dull, often glaucous or 

 bluish green. 



Mature leaves. — Lanceolate, nearly symmetrical, up to i inches long and about half an inch in 

 greatest width, equally green on both sides, sometimes dull, often glaucous or bluish green. 



The midrib sometimes sunk, giving the upper face a somewhat channelled appearance. Venation 

 not always prominent, spreading ; the intramarginal vein sometimes a considerable distance from the edge. 



Buds. — The calyces and buds angular, the calyces tapering gradually to the common peduncle ; the 

 operculum ovoid and the shape of the whole bud clavate. 



Flowers. — Usually 5 to 7 in the head. The filaments often drying reddish ; the anthers opening 

 by nearly terminal pores, sometimes their widest opening being towards the base of the anther; a small 

 gland at the top of the anther ; the stigma enlarged. 



Fruits. — Small, subcylindrical, or hemispherical, spreading at the mouth. More or less angular, 

 sometimes nearly sessile as regards the pedicels. 



Notes supplementary to the Description. 



First, as regards Spencer's Gulf, S.A. Specimens from Mt. Remarkable, 

 near Melrose, have larger cylindrical fruits. Those from Flinders Range, near 

 Quorn, hare leaves sometimes shiny, fruits shiny, buds and young fruits glaucous. 



The type of EJ. cajuputea has the leaves rather shiny. Sometimes the 

 venation is well marked, indeed so marked as to approach that of var. calcicultnx. 

 The width of the leaves varies. 



Then, as regards the .Adelaide district, we have cylindrical fruits ; and broader 

 leaves from the Mt. Lofty Range ; fruits shiny, and sucker leaves mucronate, at 

 Kapunda. At National Park, near Adelaide (W. Gill), we have specimens with 

 juvenile leaves nearly orbicular ! 



SYNONYMS. 



This is a very abundant species, and very variable. It has rather a complicated 

 svnonvmv. 



Typica. 



1. E. cajuputea, F.v.M. 



2. E. odorata, Behr., var. erythrostoma, F.v.M. 

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