307 



AFFINITIES. 



« 



Mueller, in the original description, and later on in " Eucalyptographin," 

 points to E. luprestium F.v.M., and E. patens Benth. 



1. With E. buprestium F.v.M. 



From which it cLiefly differs in tliicker and smaller leaves, with the peripheric vein nearer to 

 the margin, in thicker flower-stalks, in fewer flowers together but of larger size, and not placed on thin 

 stalklets, in proportionately longer lid, in anthers not broader than long, with more extended but far less 

 divergent slits, in the ampler orifice of the fruit, with thinner edge and higher inserted as also broader 

 valves, and in the fertile teeds expanding into a broader and paler membrane. (" Eucalyptograpbia,' 1 

 under E. Todtiana.) 



The fruits of the two species are usually so different that it is impossible to 

 confuse them, but with the large spherical fruits (1-1 \ inch in diameter) there are 

 occasionally a few hypertrophied ones, which display considerable resemblance to 

 those of E. Todtiana F.v.M, 



E. buprestium is a slender, tall, Mallee-like shrub, with smooth stems ; 

 E. Todtiana is a gnarled tree, with rough bark. 



2. With E. patens Benth. 



The differences of E. patens consist in that species having thinner leaves, 

 shorter flower stalks, narower anthers, and smaller fruits; besides, it attains as a 

 tree to much greater dimensions. (" Eucalyptographia.") 



They both have pale timbers, and their fibrous barks are a good deal similar ; 

 E. Todtiana is more spreading in habit, while E. patens has a long trunk. 

 E. Todtiana may have a trunk diameter of 3 feet and more, which is much larger 

 than Mueller was aware of ; at the same time, there is no record that E. Todtiana 

 attains the size that E. patens does. Farther investigations in the field are 

 required as regards E. Todtiana. 



2. With E. marginata Sm. 



The similarity of these two species as regards herbarium material, has been 

 overlooked, and it is considerable. The juvenile leaves appear to be uniformly 

 narrower in E. Todtiana. The opercula are longer and narrower in E. marginata, 

 and the anthers are renantheroid. The affinity of E. marginata and E. Todtiana 

 is obvious on other grounds. 



The fruits of E. marginata are usually smaller and more ovoid, but 

 exceptionally they may be almost as spherical as those of E. Todtiana, and 

 even larger than I have ever seen those of E. Todtiana {e.g., my var. Staerii of 

 E. margincit'j, Pro'. Roy. Soc. N.S.W., vol. xlvii, 1913). 



The leaves of E. marginata and E. Todtiana are often strikingly alike; both 

 in texture and venation. The timber of E. marginata (Jarrah) is, of course, red, 

 while that of E. Todtiana is pale coloured. 



