76 



DESCRIPTION. 



CDXXL E deformis Blakely. 



Jour. Boy. Soc, N.S.W., LXL 152 (1927). 



StRiNGYBABK Mallee vel arbor parva deformis, 6-25 pedes alta, 2-9 uncias in diametro ; cortex laxe fibroso- 

 intricatus; folia juvenilia opposita vel alternata, cordata, lanceolata, sessilia vel breviter petiolata, fere 

 glabra, leviter crenulata, 2-5-6 x 1-7-4-5 cm. ; folia matura alternata, petiolata, obliquo-falcato-lanceolata, 

 6-14 x 1-3 cm.; inflorescentia umbellis axillaribus 5-14 fiorum, gemmae subsessiles, cylindracae, acutae vel 

 rostratae, 7-8 x 3 mm. ; anthers reniformes ; stylus teres, subulatus : capsulae hemisphaericae ad. fere 

 globulares, subsessiles, 7-8 x 4 mm. ; discus convexus admodum crassus. 



A Mallee, or a small somewliat deformed or badly-shaped Stringybark, 6-25 feet high, 3-9 inches 

 in diameter, usually growing in moist, shallow sandstone depressions, and on damp stony plateaux and 

 low ridges. Bark loosely matted-fibrous on the stem and main branches, the smaller branches less fibrous 

 and usually dark-coloured. 



Juvenile leaves cordate to lanceolate, sessile to shortly petiolate, only the first two or four pairs 

 opposite, or sometimes an occasional pair ma}' be opposite amongst the alternate ones, glabrous, except 

 for a few glandular hairs along the midrib, dark green, the margins slightly crenulate, 2-5-6 cm. long, 

 1-7-4-5 cm. broad ; lateral veins not numerous, usually somewhat prominent beneath, diverging at an 

 angle of 40-50° with the midrib; intramarginal vein distant from the edge. Stems scabwms with stellate 

 hairs for 6-12 inches, then smooth. 



Intermediate leaves alternate, petiolate, oblong-ovate to obliquely lanceolate, mucronate, glabrous, 

 dark green, 5-8 cm. x 2-6 cm. ; veins somewhat obscure, the lateral ones spreading at an angle of 50-60° 

 with the midrib ; intramarginal vein undulate, usually distant from the thickened nerve-like margin. 



Adult leaves alternate, petiolate, obliquely lanceolate, or falcate-lanceolate, thick, coriaceous, 

 dark green, glossy, 6-14 cm. x 1-3 cm. Venation penninerved, usually distinct; lateral veins diverging* 

 at an angle of 35^0° with the midrib, the median nerve very distinct on both sides, and usually closer 

 to the lower margin ; intramarginal vein usually very close to the edge. 



Inflorescence in axillary umbels, the peduncle compressed, 5-7 mm. long, supporting 5-14 

 smallish flowers. Buds elongated, acute, to slightly rostrate, sessile or nearly so, somewhat angular at the 

 base, 7-8 mm. x 3 mm. Operculum conoid or rostrate, as long as or longer than the narrow funnel-shaped 

 calyx-tube. Filaments not numerous, white, many of the upper ones straight in the bud or before the 

 operculum falls, and nearly as long as the terete, subulate style. Anthers small, reniform. 



Fruit sessile or very shortly pedicellate, hemispherical to nearly globular, 7-8 x 4-6 mm. ; disc 

 usually prominent, forming a rather broad, smooth, slightly convex band around the small orifice ; valves 

 small, scarcely exsert. 



Timber. — The trees are small and usually hollow, and produce a ery pale brown, hard and durable 

 timber, bu* it is so small that it is of little us except for fuel and mine props. 



