96 



DESCRIPTION. 



CDXX1X. E. Gilleni Ewart and L. R. Kerr. ■ 



In Proc. Roy. Soc, Vict., xxxix, 7 (1926), with fig. 



A low, densely-branched shrub, spreading from the base, about 6-8 feet high, with a smooth bark on the 

 branches, becoming rougher and more Box-like on the older stems, but not fibrous. Leaves shortly stalked 

 with the petiole, usually twisted so as to place the lamina vertical, linear-ovate to lanceolate, bluntly 

 pointed, thick, very coriaceous, pale green on both sides, intramarginal vein prominently developed, and 

 frequently with a second, fainter, intramarginal vein nearer the edge of the leaf ; lateral veins diverging 

 at an angle of about 45° ; young shoots angular, midrib red. Fruits shortly stalked, usually in clusters 

 of three, occasionally in twos, or even single, and either on terminal leafless branches or on leafy shoots 

 opposite the leaves, or in their axils ; peduncles short, thick, and more or less angular ; capsules sessile, 

 almost globular, with an equatorial rim and a domed-shaped top with four, or less commonly three, short 

 valves with flattened-incurved tips ; seeds not winged. 



The fruit somewhat resembles that of E. macrorrhyncha, but the bark is quite different. The nearest 

 affinity appears to be E. Oldfieldii, but the general habit and the shorter, angular, common pedicel are 

 distinctive features. Although the flowers have not been seen, the species appears to be quite distinct. 



Juvenile leaves narrow ovate-lanceolate, pointed, shortly stalked, opposite and becoming alternate 

 later ; venation almost identical with the adult leaves, except that the intramarginal vein is thinner and 

 single and the leaves less coriaceous than the adult ; oil glands not numerous, but more prominent on the 

 juvenile foliage. The plant is strongly xerophytic, and only grows, so far as is known, on the southern 

 slope of Mt. Gillen, among the tufts of porcupine grass. It grows well in Melbourne, forming a rather 

 graceful small shrub, but seems reluctant to flower. 



Mt. Gillen, Northern Territory, July, 1924 (A. J. Ewart). 



AFFINITIES. 



With E. Morrisii R. T. Baker. 



The fruits appear to resemble those of E. Morrisii E. T. Baker. They are, 

 according to the figure, ovoid, closely sessile ; the peduncle is very short, scarcely half 

 the length of the fruit. The leaves are broad-lanceolate and thick. 



