54 



valves ; the bark is dark and hard (or perfectly smooth in tropical or nearly tropical 

 localities), but very different to that of E. melanophloia, which is an Ironbark. 

 The strong similarities indeed only refer to the lanceolate-leaved forms. As regards 

 the lanceolate leaves of E. melanophloia, it is very rarely the case that they are ever 

 as narrow as those of E. microtheca, and the venation is more spreading. My 

 experience is that the colour on drying of the leaves of the two species is much 

 the same — glaucous on both sides. The mntter will be again referred to when 

 E. melanophloia is figured. 



2. With E. Raveretiana, F.v.M. 



The fruits and flowers are smaller, and the timber is brown, not red. Mueller 

 (and also O'Shanesy) points out the E. Raveretiana timber was formerly distributed 

 in International Exhibitions as E. microtheca. E. Raveretiana is a much larger 

 tree and the bark less scaly; it is also very local, being confined to the Rockhampton 

 district so far as is known at present. 



3. With E. ruclis, Endl. 



There has been some confusion between these two species in the past, and 

 the synonymy lias, I hope, been now cleared up. See p. 51. The fruits of E. rudis 

 are much larger than those of E. microtheca, the buds are also larger, and the 

 leaves usually broader and thinner, and do not dry white. 



4. With E. rostrata, Schlecht. 



Especially in Western Australia there is a closer resemblance between 

 E. microtheca and E. rostrata. The fruits of the latter are usually larger and the 

 operoula more rostrate (a character to be applied with caution in Western Australian 

 specimens), the venation less fine, the intramarginal vein further from the edge, 

 and the surface non-glaucous. As a rule, also, E. rostrata lacks the black hard bark 

 that is common on the butt of E. microtheca, but West Australian trees of the 

 latter appear to have less of it than eastern ones. The anthers of the two species 

 are very different. 



5. With E. bicolor, A. Cunn. See p. 12. 



Explanation of Plates (49-52). 

 PLATE 49. 



E. Bosistoana, F.v.M. 



1. Juvenile foliage. Metung, Gippsland, Victoria. (A. W. Howitt.) 



2(7. Juvenile foliage (J. L. Boorman, Jan, 1904) ; 2b, unripe fruit, showing rim (J.H.M., Mar, 1900) ; 

 both Wingello, near Goulburn, N.S.W. 



3 Ripe fruits, showing exserted valves ; usually 6-celled, but sometinifS 7. " Red Box," Bega district, 

 N.S.W., Nov., 1S94. 



