DESCRIPTION. 



CXXXIII. E. Macarthuri Deane and Maiden. 



THE CAMDEN WOOLLY-BUTT. 

 Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. xxiv, 448 (1899), with, plate xxxviii. 



Following is tlie original description : — 



The history of this interesting species is as follows : — Sir William Macarthur collected its timber for 

 the Paris Exhibition of 1S55, it bearing the number 142 of the indigenous woods of the southern district 

 he was. commissioned to procure for this Exhibition. Under the name of " Woolly Gum of Argyle," he 

 described it as follows : '"A species of picturesque growth, confined to a limited extent of country ; wood 

 not esteemed.* reputed to possess little comparative strength or durability. Height, 40-80 feet; diameter, 

 36-18 inches." 



The identical specimen was sent by Sir William to the London Exhibition of 1862, this time under 

 the name of " Woolly Gum of Berrima," and it was described as " a tree of beautiful form, but the timber 

 weak and worthless." 



In the year 1864 Miss Atkinson (afterwards Mrs. Calvert) collected it, and the following is a copy of 

 her label : — '" Bark fibrous, Woolly Gum, Berrima. Large round tree, very hard wood, but not used, afi 

 it does not split well." 



Her original specimens are in the National Herbarium of Victoria, and were seen by Bentham, who 

 referred them to E. viminalis. See also B.Fl, iii, 240, where this species is referred to as " Camden Woolly 

 Butt, Woods." ' 



Probably both Miss Atkinson and Dr. Woods collected specimens, and the following passage' was 

 written soon after the arrival of the 3rd volume of the Flora AustraUensis in the Colony : — 



" E. diversifolia. — I have ventured to separate the ' Camden Woolly-butt ' from the ' Manna Gum ' 

 (E. viminalis), with which it has been associated, because the trees differ so much from each other in bark, 

 habit. &c. The Camden Woolly-butt resembles in some respects the Woolly-butt of other districts, 

 having the lower part of the tree covered with fibrous bark and the upper brancb.es smooth. The inflores- 

 cence, however, and the leaves are very different, being sometimes narrow-lanceolate and alternate, and 

 sometimes cordate or ovate-acuminate, sessile and opposite. The buds and seed-vessels are small, generally 

 eight in eaCh axillary or lateral umbel. This species is common in the neighbourhood of Berrima, and 

 attains the height of 80 feet, but beautiful as the form of the tree is, the wood is said to be indifferent." — 

 Woods' Contribution to the Flora of Australia, p. 235 (1867). 



And again : — " E. diversifolia, which, in the Flora, is regarded as one of the forms of E. viminalis, is 

 certainly a distinct species, and called ' Camden Woolly Butt.' The lower part of the tree is fibrous, and 

 the leaves differ from narrow lanceolate and alternate to cordate, sessile and opposite." — Woods' Lectures 

 oi the Vegetable Kingdom, p. 120 (1879). 



It will thus be seen that Woods did not agree with Bentham in placing the " Camden Woolly-butt '' 

 under E. viminalds; and he himself placed it under E. diversifolia. Woods did tins probably because he- 

 thought that the reference in B.Fl. iii, 240, to E. diversifoUa was intended for the " Camden Woolly-butt," 

 but it is not Bonpland's species, Mueller (Eucalyplographia, under E. viminalis) having shown that the 

 plate in PI. de Malmaison, 35, t. 13, represents a young state o,f E. santalifolia. 



* With increased experience this estimate has been modified. I will present information on this point in my " Forest 

 Piora of New South Wales.'' 



