19 



DESCRIPTION. 



CXVI. E. gomphocephala A. P. DC. 



Prod, iii, 220 (1828). 

 Following is the description : — ■ 



Operculo heruisphferico obtuso substriato cupula multo latiorc et fere longiore, pedunculis antieipi- 

 tibus petioli longitudine subterminalibus, floribus 3-4 uinbellato-capitatis, foliis lanceolatis acuruinatis 

 coriaceis. Hab. in Nova-Hollandia. Operculum fere pileiforme, in meis speciminibus adhuc indehiscens. 

 Petala o, stamina numerosissima. Fructus angulato-compressus subturbinatus 4~ locularis. Petioli 

 pollicem longi teretes. Folia glauca, nervo medio unico prominulo avenia 5 poll, longa poll. lata. 



It was figured in his " Mernoire sur la Pamille des Myrtacees " (Mem. Soc. 

 Phys. et Hist. Nat. de Geneve ix, t.ll, 18i2), but no further particulars are given. 



It was described by Bentham at B.E1. iii, 231, and subsequently by Mueller 

 in the " Eucalyptographia," The drawing of the (immature) fruits in his plate is 

 unsatisfactory. 



The timber is pale coloured and of a yellowish cast. It is cut commercially 

 and resembles such timbers as E. leucoxylon and E. cladocalyx. The bark is sub- 

 fibrous (matted) reminding one of the " Box " trees (hemiphloia) of Eastern 

 Australia, except that the branches are not smooth and therefore hare no ribbons. 

 The resemblance is closer to E. Stuartiana, " Apple tree " of Eastern Australia. 



The most obvious character of this species is the much greater diameter of 

 the operculum as compared with the calyx-tube (cupula). The original described 

 aptly alludes to it as "pileiform," reminding one of a mushroom. To have the 

 operculum of greater diameter at all, no matter how little, is unusual in Eucalyptus. 



Mueller quotes E. robusta and E. Watsoniana in this comparison, and also 

 E. cladocalyx (corynocalyx) and E. urnigera. 



One may add E. oleosa, torquata, incrassata, goniantha, Griffithsi, but in no 

 case is the character so marked as in E. gomphocephala. 



The especially strap-shaped common peduncle, with the young buds, almost 

 sessile, arranged along the broad top, and not at one point, so as to give the 

 appearance of an umbel when young, gives the young buds a peculiar appearance. 



Such an arrangement may be also seen in E. obcordata var. nutans and 

 E. redunca. 



The fruits are large, bell-shaped, and therefore dilated at the orifice ; they 

 are usually ribbed, as is often seen more or less in fruits of the genus. 



The name universally given to this tree and its timber is Tuart ; it is of 

 aboriginal origin, and it was originally spelled Tewart. 



