272 



DESCRIPTION. 



CCXL E. longkomis F.v.M. 



In Fragmenta xi, 14 (1878). 



Following is a translation of the unsatisfactory original description : — 



E. olejsi var. lonjipomis (E. hnjicomis F.M. coll.), includes a tree well known in Western Australia 

 under the name of '' Morrel." It attains a height of 120 feet, and has a rugose ash-colourcd bark 

 (Rhytiphloioe) on the trunk, persisting to the branches. It grows interspersed amongst E. loxophleba 

 (foecunja) and E. sahnoiiophloia, showing affinity in bark to the former and in foliage to the latter. It ia 

 nearest to E. oleosa, and may perhaps be a variety of it, but it differs in the size of the tree, in the lustre 

 and length of the leaves, the greater length of the peduncles and pedicels and in the elongated 

 operculum. The characters which separate it from E. salmoiwphloia are the persistent bark, tho 

 operculum, longer and more acute, the slender style and the distinctly larger fruits. (Fragm. xi, 14, 

 1878.) 



In his "Forest Resources of Western Australia" (1879), Mueller figures E. 

 longicornis, but at p. 12, in referring to Fragm. xi, 14, says :— 



It is nselless to devote to this Eucalypt a special description, as most probably it constitutes a 

 mere variety of the preceding (E. ohosa). It differs, however, in its comparatively tall stature, attaining 

 a height of 120 feet, and perhaps more. 



And he repeats the differences from E. fcecunda and E. salmonophloia, already 

 given. 



In " Eucalyptographia,'' under E. oleosa, Mueller says: — 



In Western Australia occur several kinds of trees, the precise relation of which to E. oleosa is not 

 yet clearly undsrstood ; they are the Morrell, E. lonjicornis (he adds salmoiwphhia, sahibris, leptopcJa 

 and decipiens). . . - . . All attain a height of about 100 feet [E. leptopoda certainly does not, and 

 I have my doubts as to some of the others. — J.H.M.] and E. longicornis may only be the favourably 

 developed arboreous state of E. oleosa; its bark is totally persistent, the foliage is like that of 

 E. salmon j phhia, the lids are horn-like, elongated, which suggested the name, and outer stamens arc 

 straight in bud. 



So far as I know, this is the last statement Mueller made in regard to E. longicornis, 

 and he omitted the name from his Census. 



Illustrations. — In this work, Part XV, p. 166, and at figs. 4a and 46 and 5, 

 Plate 66, and figs. \a to If, 2, Plate 67, I have referred to and figured this tree, and have 

 suggested the identity of this particular Morrel with the Poot, also of Western Australia. 



I am now of opinion that Mueller's E. longicornis is sufficiently distinct from 

 E. oleosa to be considered a species, and therefore I recommend adoption of the name. 

 The species has been sufficiently characterised, although Mueller did not describe 

 it as formally as he would have done had he been more certain of it. The size, the 

 bark, the timber and other botanical points show sufficient differences. The above 

 aiote will be found in a paper by me in Jpurn. Eoy< Soc. X.S.W., lji, 501 (1918). 



