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DESCRIPTION. 



CLX. E. amplifolia Naudin. 



In "Description et emploi des Eucalyptus introduits en Europe,"' &c. (2nd Memoire), 



Antibes. p. 28 (1891). 



Following is a translation of the original : — 



Large tree, to be classed in the " Uniform Alternifoliate " Section, although it differs much in the 

 early stage from the form it 'will take in the adult one. By its mode of inflorescence, the relative length 

 of the opercula, and the structure of its fruit, it belongs to the intricate group of species and varieties of 

 which E. tereticornis may perhaps be considered the centre, but at the same time it has characters so peculiar, 

 that one can only look upon it as a good species. 



I have found it in many places in Algeria, in our Provence gardens, iu that of Mr. Hanbnry, at Mortola, 

 near Mentone ; I have received specimens from 51. Ricasoli of Florence, and we possess several specimens 

 of ft of different ages at the Yilla Thuret. Everywhere this Eucalypt is seen to be very uniform, which is 

 an additional argument in favour of its specific recognition. 



One of the good characters which make it recognisable from its earliest age is the magnitude and 

 shape of its leaves, petiolate and alternate, very largely oval-obtuse or even orbicular, and of a size that 

 may be called exceptional in the genus, for some are found to be from 10-12 cm. long and almost equally 

 broad. In the adult age they vary considerably : sometimes they are oval, but not so large as those of the 

 juvenile phase ; sometimes, and more often, they are lanceolate, more or less curved, 15-20" cm. long and 

 of a width varying from 2-5 cm. These leaves, as well as those of the early stage are green, slightly glossy 

 and coriaceous. 



There is more uniformity in the inflorescence which is in axillary umbels which have usually a peduncle, 

 shorter than the petiole of the adjacent leaf. They are many-flowered, containing usually from 13-15 

 flowers, shortly pedicellate, of which the operculum (which is nearly four times as long as the tube of the 

 calyx) is conical-pointed, straight or slightly curved. The fruit, which is scarcely the size of a very small 

 pea, is spherical, but apiculate, the prolongation of the exsert capsule, the valves of which, when brought 

 together, form a point. When mature they open out, leaving the fruit gaping as in the other species of 

 the same group. The capsule is 3-4 celled. 



E. amplifolia is one of the species which are remarkable for rapidity of growth. Its stem rises 

 straight, and the tree naturally takes the pyramidal form. The trunk becomes smooth and of a greyish 

 shade when the first bark is detached from it. 



By the shape of the fruit, E. amplifolia resembles E. capitellata Smith, figured in Mueller's " Eucalypto- 

 graphia," but it differs from it considerably in its juvenile stage, and further, perhaps, by the length and 

 the form of the opercula of the flowers, those of E. capitellata being reduced to a little rounded and obtuse 

 cap, much shorter than the calyx tube. It has more analogy with E. macrorrliyncha, which is distinguished 

 from it by its juvenile form, by its usually seven-flowered umbels, and by the relative shortness of the 

 opercula, which are here of the same length as the calyx tube. To judge by the figure in the " Eucalypto- 

 graphia," the fruit would be as much larger as that of E. amplifolia. 



A specimen in fruit in Herb. Mus., Paris, bears the following label in M. Xaudin's 

 handwriting : — 



"Eucalyptus amplifolia Ndn. Du bois de Boulogne d' Alger, administration 

 forestiere. Ch. Ndn." 



