116 



DESCRIPTION. 



CLXXVII. E. annulata Benth. 



In Flora Austral iensis, Vol. iii r 234 (1866). 

 Following is the original :— 



A tall shrub with a smooth bark (Maxwell). 



Leaves narrow-lanceolate, acuminate, mostly under i inches long, thick and smooth, with oblique 

 veins usually very indistinct, the intramarginal one near the edge. 



Peduncles axillary or lateral, short, thick, flat, and almost as broad as long, each with about six 

 tn twelve sessile flower?. 



Calyx-tube turbinate-campanulate, about 3 lines diameter. 



Operculum <> to 8 lines long, usually incurved and very obtuse or almost clavate at the end. 



Stamens straight as in E. cornuta, but apparently of a yellowish-white colour as in E. macrandra, 

 the margin of the disc that bears them forming a raised inflexed ring about f line broad. 



Anthers oblong with parallel cells. 



Ovary conical at the top, tapering into the style. 



Fruit depressed-globose, 4 to 5 lines diameter, the convex rim protruding into a thick ring, quite 

 distinct from the valves which project much, tapering into long erect or connivent points formed by the 

 persistent base of the style. 



There is a difference of opinion as to whether E. annulata should rank as a distinct 

 species, or whether E. cornuta should include it and E. Lehmanni. I have already 

 referred to the matter under E. Lehmanni, p. 113. 



" E. annulata must be regarded as an aberrant form of E. cornuta, without claims for genuine specific 

 limitation; the flower-stalks are, however, remarkably abbreviated, the calyces and therefore also the 

 Htamens are considerably reduced in length, the filaments are paler (? J.H.M.), and the staminiferous disc 



s singularly raised; the last mentioned note proves, however, not to be of specific avail for several other 



Eucalypts." (Eucalyptographia.) 



The characters of E. annulata are : — 



Leaves narrow-lanceolate, juvenile leaves unknown. 



Operculum swollen at the top. 



Peduncles very short, broad and flat. 



Flowers and fruit sessile. 



Ovary and capsule with a conical top, surrounded by a free annular disc. 



Valves, when open, prominent and acuminate. 



Until more is known about the species, which will include collection of complete 

 material, I concur with Bent ham in looking upon E. annulata as a distinct species. 



