75 



DESCRIPTION. 



CLXIX. E. rudis Endlicher. 



Ix Baron von Huegel's Enumeratio Plant. Novce Hollandice, ova Austro-occidentali, 



p. 49 (1837). 



This may be translated as follows : — 



Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with an intra-marginal vein, the petiole of the axillary 

 umbel shorter than the terete peduncle, the conical operculum of the same length as the calyx -tube. 



Type from King George's Sound (Huegel). 



Nearly related to E. incrassata Labill. Nov. Roll. t. 150, differing in its more slender branches, ovate- 

 lanceolate leaves, long acuminate, 6-7 inches long, an inch and a half broad at the base, veins less prominent, 

 arranged in acute angles, petioles an inch longer than the umbels, peduncle terete, flowers somewhat small, 

 the calyx-tube and operculum wrinkled. 



Then it is described by Schauer in Plantae Preissiana? i, 130 (1844) under 

 Preiss's No. 252 (in Vienna Herbarium) from the Swan River, as a tree of 45 feet, 

 with graceful loose branches. 



Mueller (" Eucalyptographia ") says : — "Commissural line between the lid and 

 the tube of the calyx rather prominent, by which characteristic this Eucalyptus can 

 readily be distinguished from allied species." 



A commissure is denned as a joint seam or closure, the place where two bodies 

 (operculum and calyx-tube in this case) meet and unite. Mueller's statement must not 

 be misunderstood, as this commissure, which is an indication of the early falling off of a 

 second operculum, is much more common in Eucalyptus than was at one time supposed. 

 E. punctata DC. is a common east Australian example. 



Rudis (Latin) means rough and crude ; it may be that in this word we have a 

 reference to the comparative worthlessness of the timber. There are, however, very few 

 references to the timber published. ; ' Timber seemingly of little value except for 

 fuel" (Mueller). It is a brown to pale brown timber, and while travelling in Western 

 Australia I used to be usually informed that it is " no good." The remarks under 

 " Range " that at York one of its names is " Wormwood," because of its liability to 

 insect attacks, supports this judgment. The subject is still further referred to when 

 contrasting this species with E. rostrata. It is usually known as " Swamp Gum " or 

 " Flooded Gum," from the situations in which it usually grows. It is less commonly 

 known as " Blue Gum." 



It may be that it is the " Blue Gum " or " Colort " (native name), " on river 

 banks and flooded lands, a sure indication of vicinity of water." See Captain Lort 

 Stokes' Discoveries in Australia, ii, 132. 



