225 



DESCRIPTION, 



CC. E. torquata Luehmann. 



In Vict. Nat. xiii, p. 147 (1897). 



Following is the original description : — 



Leaves pctiolate, lanceolate, slightly oblique at the base, about 4 inches long, -|- to § inch broad, 

 coriaceous, the lateral veins oblique, but hardly visible except under a lens, of a dull greyish-green colour 

 on both sides. Peduncles axillary or lateral, slender, nearly 1 inch long, bearing an umbel of about seven 

 flowers. Pedicels as long as the peduncle, slender, mostly somewhat quadrangular. Calyx about 4 lines 

 long, the base abruptly dilated into a ring with seven to'ten prominent vertical ridges, the upper portion 

 turbinate or nearly cylindrical, slightly streaked, the rim narrow. Operculum with a basal protuberance 

 similar to that of the calyx, the upper part forming a narrow cone fully 3 lines long. Stamzns all fertile, 

 4 to 6 lines long, the filaments of a reddish-orange colour ; anthers rather large, truncate, and broader on 

 top than at the base, opening by longitudinal parallel slits. Ovulary five-celled. Fruit not seen. 



Although only a single specimen of this species is available, I have ventured to submit a description 

 of it on account of the most singular dilatation of the calyx. It seems to have the greatest affinity to 

 E. incrassala, especially as regards the anthers. It also bears some resemblance, to E. decurva, but that 

 species has very small, nearly globular anthers. 



I described the fruit at Part IV, page 109, of the present work, and gave a figure 

 of it, and some details, at fig. 6, Plate 13, of the present work. A photograph of the 

 tree is shown at page 120 of the same Part. 



The describer speaks of the filaments, as reddish-orange. I have never seen such 

 a colour, spontaneous or cultivated, only pink of various shades — i.e., of the crimson, 

 not the scarlet series. 



Mr. E. H. Bailey, of Perth (in 1909), told me that he had raised plants with a little 

 flower eighteen months from seed, and plenty at thirty months. In Proc. Roy. Soc. 

 N.S.W. li, 457 (1917), I reported that the species has flowered freely in the Sydney 

 Botanic Gardens during the last four years, where a shrub of 3 feet 6 inches bore a 

 profusion of palish pink flowers, somewhat concealed by the leaves. It is a decided 

 acquisition to horticulture. This particular shrub is now (January, 1919) 8 feet high, 

 with a spread of about 4 feet. 



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