DESCRIPTION. 



LXVI. E. melliodora, A. Cunn., 



By Schauer, in Walpers' Repertorium Botanlces Systematica, ii, 924 (1843). 

 Following is the original description : — 



E. melliodora A. Cunn. Herb. No. 57: — Schauer MSS. — Arborea glaucescens ; ramulis pendulis 

 terelib. ; foil, coriaceis anguste lanceolatis subfalcatis in petiolum attenuatis acuminatis, margine 

 incrassatis impunctatis concolorib. opacis ; pedunculis axillarib. 3-5-floris petiolo duplo breviorib. 

 pedicellisq. cornpressis, his cupula paullo longiorib. ; operculo coriaceo subhemisphaerico vix apiculato 

 cupula obconica (riente breviori. Foliorum lamina 2|-3 pollices longa, 6 lin. circiter lata, pedunculus 

 3 lin. metiens, operculum 1 lincam altum cupula; concolor flavescenti-virens. Flores mel redolentes. In 

 Xovw Cambria; Australis plagis interioribus occidentem versus frequens. 



It was more fully described by Bentham in B.F1. iii, 210. The name " Red 

 Gum," given to this tree on the authority of A damson {loc. cit.) is erroneous and 

 arose out of local confusion with E. rostrata, Schlceht. 



A specimen in Herb. Cant., ex herb. Lindh, is labelled : — " No. 7-1, Eucalyptus, 

 Nangus [Gundagai district, N.S.W. — J. ELM.], Yarra of the Natives." If the native 

 name be correctly applied, then E. melliodora bears it in addition to E. rostrata. 



The bark of the tree varies a good deal. Often sub-fibrous or " box-like," as 

 the Australian expression is, this fibrousness varies in texture, and also in the 

 distance up the trunk to which it extends. It is quite pardonable, especially in the 

 case of a stranger coming into a fresh district, to confuse E. melliodora with rostrata, 

 tereticornis, and even polyanthemos until a casual view of the trees has been checked 

 by a closer examination. 



There is a fairly full account of E. melliodora, w T ith an illustration, in Part 

 IX of my " Forest Flora of New South Wales," to which my readers may be 

 referred. 



E. melliodora is a very uniform species, taking it altogether, but sometimes 

 we have broadish leaves, and occasionally quite narrow leaves — e.g., from the Lacblan 

 and other parts of New South Wales. Leaves may be as small as 2-3 inches long 

 and -/g inch wide. As the tops of trees are approached it is very commonly the case 

 (not only as regards this species) that the leaves diminish in size. This is a precocious 

 flowering species, and when it flowers in a shrubby state the leaves are often large. 

 It has glaucous and broader leaves in cold situations. 



As northern New South Wales is approached the species has often coarser 

 fruits, and the timber is reputed more durable. In southern New South Wales the 

 trunks are often ringy, with shal.es throughout the log; but going north, straighter 

 stems and better logs are available. 



