115 



and the valves, although exserted on the whole, have their insertions placed a little below the level of the 

 rim. Yet, on examining the fruit from a number of trees, I observed that there was a considerable; 

 variation in that of the same tree. While some agree with this description, others have the protruding 

 convex rim and exserted valves of the typical E. viminalis. 



In the variety which I am now considering, it must be noted that the habit of growth, and the 

 character of the wood, is that of E. viminalis, and not of E. Stuartiana. Although the cortical character 

 is not of much value, the character of its bark places it among the Leiophloice. 



This tree is the manna-producing Eucalypt of the mountain country. The manna is produced as' 

 plentifully, in the same manner, and of the same kind, as that produced by the typical E. viminalis.* 



I must note, in this connection, however, that I have found small quantities of manna 

 indistinguishable from that of E. viminalis, either by appearance or taste, attached to slight injuries on 

 leaves of saplings of E. Stuartiana at Toongabbie. 



The difference between this Eucalypt and the typical form of E. viminalis lie almost entirely in the 

 foroi of the leaves of seedlings and young plants, and in their pulverulent character. In general 

 appearance these certainly resemble the young plants of Stuartiana, but even more those of E. pulverulenta, 

 as found in Gippsland. 



Having to choose between E. viminalis and E. Stuartiana, I have, after weighing all these 

 considerations, assigned it to the former, notwithstanding the strong presumption which arises to the 

 contrary from the extreme departure of its seedlings from the typical form. 



It seems not only to connect E. viminalis and E. Stuartiana, and thus to strengthen the alliance 

 which, as Baron von Mueller points out, exists between these Eucalypts, but also to connect these two 

 with E. pulverulenta, in some variety of which I have observed the fruit to have a protruding margin and 

 exserted valves.f — Howitt, in Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., ii, 97 (1890). 



RANGE. 



It is found in the States of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South 

 Wales, and Queensland. 



It is primarily a cold country species, occurring from end to end of the eastern 

 portion of New South Wales, and but rarely descending below 2,000 feet. It occurs 

 on the lower slopes of the Mount Kosciusko Range and ascends to about 5,500 feet. 

 On other mountain ranges and spurs in the south-eastern part of the State it ascends 

 nearly as high. In New England and the spurs and higher slopes arising from it, it 

 is common, and extends into Queensland as far as the Stanthorpe district. • 



The type form came from the sides of dry hills in southern New South Wales, 

 but it is not uncommonly found in low-lying situations and over a considerable area in 

 that and other States. It is not surprising, therefore, that considerable variation is 

 observable in the species, and this is particularly seen in its northern range. In northern 

 New South Wales it becomes a larger, straighter tree, with coarser leaves, flowers, and 

 fruits. 



* When travelling through the Morwell district, where this tree forms part of the forest, some school children, 

 whom I requested to point out the "manna gum," indicated this tree, saying that in December the ground under the tree 

 was white with manna. (Howitt.) 



t The difference in the young plants of the lowland and mountain forms of this Eucalypt, are little, if any, 

 greater than those which I observed exist in the young forms of the two varieties of E. leucoxylon, which grow in the 

 neighbourhood of Heathcotc. 



The smooth-barked variety, locally known as spotted box, has in its young form, ovate, opposed, somewhat mealy 

 leaves. The rough-barked form- — the Ironbark— has opposed leaves only in very young seedlings. (Ih.) 



c 



