49 



I shall show later that there is a very close affinity between E. saligna and 

 E. botryoides, and the affinity of E. robusta is closer to the E. botryoides end of the 

 chain. 



3. With E. botryoides Sm. 



E. robusta is known as distinct from E. botryoides by the larger size of the flowers and fruits and 

 often also the leaves, by the more extended flowerstalks and particularly by the longer-pointed pale never 

 shining lid, which at the base is broader than the calyx-tube, and by the longer fruits with comparatively 

 narrow and almost permanently coherent valves. (" Eucalyptographia " under E. botryoides.) 



It is with E. botryoides that E. robusta has its closest affinities. Both are 

 coast-loving species, umbrageous in habit, but the branches of E. robusta are more 

 erect, and its foliage larger and coarser, — more Ficus-like (indica, mac?'ophylla, &c.) . 

 The buds of E. robusta are habitually more pointed, and like the fruits, larger. In 

 E. robusta the flowers are much more frequently pedicellate than are those of 

 E. botryoides. The barks of the two trees are often similar, but in E. botryoides 

 there is a tendency to smoothness in the branches and even the upper part of the 

 trunk, which does not appear to be the case in E. robusta. The timber of the two 

 trees are not very dissimilar ; this is recognised by bushmen, who call E. robusta 

 " Swamp Mahogany " and E. botryoides " Bastard Mahogany." 



B 



