169 



It must, however, be understood by the term " broadish " that it is comparative 

 as regards the usual narrow juvenile leaves of E. viminalis, and that it is far' from 

 approximating to broad suckers, i.e., those in which length and breadth tend to 

 become equal. At the same time I admit that occasionally, e.g., Fig. lb of Plate 119, 

 the juvenile leaves are fairly described by the adjective broadish. 



Mature leaves.— The strictly opposite character of the seedling leaves some- 

 times extends even to the mature foliage {e.g., figs. 12a and 13 of Plate 118), and may 

 extend to even above the fruits (e.g., certain trans-Blue Mountains specimens). 



The foliage has a dainty fragrance, not easily described. 



Pedicels.— Pedicels short (B.F1. iii, 239). They, however, vary in length in 

 many localities. 



Buds.— In New South "Wales specimens the buds are usually very smooth and 

 shining (B.F1. iii, 240). The words " smooth and shining " apply best to the buds 

 of certain forms of E. Ghmnii that Bentham included under viminalis, but shininess 

 is no absolute criterion. 



Operculum.— " Conical or hemispherical, blunt or sharp, as long as the calyx" 

 (Hooker's Fl. Tas.). Obtuse or conical, not much longer than the calyx-tube. The 

 shape varies within very wide limits. The ovoid-budded forms have the opercula 

 rounded, sometimes nearly hemispherical ; others are conical and even beaked. In 

 northern New South Wales, for example, the operculum varies from ovoid to very 

 pointed: this latter form is found in the northern portion and in Victoria and 

 Tasmania. The beaked operculum is found in the three-flowered and multiflowered 

 series. 



Following are notes on two specimens with beaked or very long opercula :— 



(a) A specimen from Snowy Biver in Herb. Melb. in Mueller's handwriting, 



" E. viminalis Labill. var. pedicellaris Mueller." Slightly glaucous; multi- 

 flowered. 



(b) Also from the Snowy River, labelled by Mueller " E. viminalis Labill., var. 



rhyncliocorys, Ferd. Mueller (rkynchos, a beak) and with the addition, 

 " regarded by Bentham as a variety of E. tereticomis " (a mistake readily 

 made with specimens only in leaf and bud). Three-flowered; slightly 

 glaucous. 



E. viminalis often multiflowered. 



" Peduncles bearing three, rarely four or more flowers ; ; ; . 



Australian specimens have often more than three flowers on each peduncle " (Hooker's 

 Fl. Tas.). We have a number of multiflowered specimens from Tasmania. 



" Peduncles short, axillary or lateral, bearing in some specimens, especially 

 northern ones, always 3 flowers on short pedicels, in others 6 to 8 flowers more 

 distinctly pedicellate." (B,F1. iii, 239.) 

 C 



