160 



DESCRIPTION. 



CXL VI. E. Muelleri T. B. Moore. 



In Papers and Proc. Roy, Soc. Tas., 207 (1886). 



Branchlets spreading, cylindrical. 



Leaves thick, alternate, shining and crenulated; lanceolate or ovate, often acuminate, oblique, 

 rarely straight; veins indistinct, circumferential vein irregular, but generally close to edge of leaf, 

 oil-glands pellucid. 



Peduncles short, deltoid and flattened, each with two or three flowers. 



Calyx-tube much less rounded and more angular than the fruit, about 3 lines long, with a similar 

 diameter at its dilated orifice. 



Operculum short, verrucous, with orbicular point. 



Fruit hard, generally winged or angled twice, globose or ovoid, from 3 to 4 lines diameter, much 

 dilated at the orifice, the rim rounded and slightly prominent, capsule sunk, but valves protruding when 

 open. 



It was not admitted by Mueller in his Census. 



Mr. Moore adds : — 



" Here, in a less exposed situation and at a much lower elevation, this magnificent tree rises to the 

 stupendous height of 200 feet; and in many cases, for half that lofty distance its long straight stems are 

 branchless, a most noticeable peculiarity in its growth. The bark is thin, smooth, and of a reddish or 

 chocolate colour; but where the deciduous part is freshly shed, it is mottled with yellowish streaks cr 

 blotches. The wood is of a light red colour, extremely hard and surprisingly heavy, and is of a stringy and 

 close-grained character." (Op. cit. p. 208.) 



Mr. L. Rodway, in Papers and Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., 1894, p. 52, supplements 

 the description in the following words : — 



Mr. Moore's description, though very lucid, docs not include all one would wish, I therefore take 

 this opportunity to describe it more fully :— 



Eucalyptus Muelleri T. B. Moore. A tree often attaining 200 feet. Bark scaly at the base, smooth 

 above, glaucous, but becoming blotched with rufous green on prolonged exposure. Leaves alternate, 

 petioled, slightly oblique, 3-5 inches long, ovate to narrow, lanceolate, acute, margin crenate, veins obscure, 

 rather numerous and oblique. Peduncles axillary about \ inch long, angled. Flowers sessile, normally 

 three. Calyx in the mature bud obscurely angled, 4 lines long; operculum rather flat to subcorneal, 

 verrucose and umbonate. Flowering calyx turbinate, 3 lines diameter. Stamens 2\ to 3 lines long, 

 anther-cells parallel. Fruit broadly turbinate, slightly angled, 4 lines diameter; capsules deeply sunk, the 

 valves just reaching the top of the rim. 



In his " Tasmanian Flora," p. 58 (1903), he briefly describes it : — 



E. Muelleri T. B. Moore. A very tall, erect tree, though sometimes flowering when still small. 

 Bark smooth, blotched with red-brown. Leaves oblong-ovate to lanceolate-falcate, thick, shining, stalked, 

 alternate, 1-3 inches long. Flowere three in the umbel, nearly sessile in the axils. Operculum nearly 

 flat, umbonate, rough. Fruit turbinate, J-| inch. Capsule sunk. Valves often protruding. 



Common on mountains in South-west Tasmania at about 2,000 feet altitude. Very probably a 

 lowland form of E. vernicosa R. 



