98 



DESCRIPTION. 



CDXXX. E. platyphylla F.v.M. 



In Jour. Linn. Soc, iii, 93 (1859). 



In Part XXV, p. 95, of this work I have written up this species as a synonym of E. alba 

 Reinw., but I now regard it as a distinct species. 



A Latin description will be found at p. 95, of which the following is a 



translation : — 



Arboreal, with more or less terete branchlets ; leaves alternate or sub-opposite with long petioles, 

 ovate or cordate-orbicular, occasionally sub-rhombic, rarely ovate-lanceolate, opaque, prominently penni- 

 nerved, pellucidly dotted, peripheric vein distant from the margin ; umbels axillary or lateral, 3-7 flowered, 

 the angular peduncles as long as the calyx-tube, the latter hemispherical, ecostate, and as long as the 

 semi-globose, smooth and rounded operculum; fruits turbinate, hemispherical, with three or four 

 compartments, slightly convex at the apex, valves attached to the margin, exserted. 



Habitat. — In fertile pastures on the Burdekin River (Eastern tropical shores, 

 A. Cunningham, Herb. Hooker). Flowers September and November. 



A tree of moderate or large dimensions, bark of the trunk and branches smooth, 

 soon whitening, the shedding outer layers thin and dark. Petioles semiterete, 1-1| 

 inches long. Leaves thinly coriaceous, usually 2-3 inches long, often abruptly tapering 

 into the petiole, decurrent. Calyx-tube measuring 1^—2 lines. Operculum rather pale, 

 simple (by which it may be distinguished from the similar E. bigalerita). Stamens 

 2-3 lines long, whitish. Capsules 2 lines long. Near to E. bigalerita. (Journ. Linn. 

 Soc, iii, 93, 1859.) 



Eucalyptus platyphylla F.v.M. is called " Nankeen Gum," from the peculiar 

 light brown colour of its bark. It is the " White Gum " of Queensland, where it 

 has a different appearance to that in Northern Australia. " Deciduous Gum." The 

 timber is poor. 



" One thing which strikes the observer is the enormous size of the leaves of a 

 small, scrubby Gum which grows close to the ground. It is no uncommon thing to 

 see saplings with leaves a foot long, and half as broad. This is the young state of this 

 species. It is the commonest Gum tree of all tropical Australia, and will grow on the 

 poorest soil, but the leaves of the adult tree are not very large." (Tenison-Woods, 

 " Explorations in Northern Australia.") 



Illustrations. — It is amply depicted on Plate 106, figs. 3-6, also Plate 107, figs. 

 1-7. Fig 6 is portion of the type of E. bigalerita F.v.M. which appears to be conspecific 

 with E. platyphylla. 



