100 



Tlie name populifolia is one which at once arises when one views this tree, and 

 it is not surprising that it was adopted by more than one botanist independently. It 

 is the " Poplar Gum " of Leichhardt, who often refers to it in his " Overland Expedition 

 . . . to Port Essington," e.g., p. 142: — "In one of the glens along the ridges I 

 observed a new Gum tree with a leaf like that of the trembling Poplar of Europe, and 

 of a bright green colour, which rendered the appearance of the country exceedingly 

 cheerful. It is a middle-sized tree, of irregular growth, with white bark, but the wood, 

 not being free-grained, was unfit for splitting." " Considerable tracts were covered by 

 the Poplar Gum *" (p. 148). At p. 149 he named the Isaacs River, and I have seen a 

 specimen of E. platyphylla which bears Leichhardt's label. "The Poplar Gum, which forms 

 patches of forest along the Isaacks " (sic.). The Isaacs River is in Northern Queensland, 

 approximately in 22-23° S. Lat., and 149° E. Long. "... tracts of fine open 

 forest country, amongst which patches of the Poplar Gum forest were readily distin- 

 guished by the brightness of their verdure "' (p. 153). " The Poplar Gum Avas more 

 frequent, and we always found patches of fine grass near it, even when all the 

 surrounding Ironbark forest was burnt " (p. 206). " . . . Narrow-leaved Ironbark 

 and Poplar Gum grew on the hills, and rich grass everywhere " (p. 250). "... the 

 left side (of the plain) being sandy and covered with a very pleasing Poplar Gum 

 forest" (p. 253). 



Following are additional localities for this species : — 



" No. 252. In flat, swampy ground. Few in dry ridges. Middle size tree. 

 Falling bark like in the Platanus. Old bark ashy colour ; new, white-yellowish." This 

 is a copy of A. Thozet's label on a Eockhampton specimen. 



Grows on flat lands, moist clayey. Also found on the ridge at the Rockhampton 

 cemetery (J.H.M.). Thirty miles north of Rockhampton (A. Murphy) ; " Red Gum," 

 Crescent Lagoon, West Rockhampton (W. N. Jaggard). 



Following is a note on E. platyphylla taken by me while standing in front of the 

 trees at North Rockhampton, Queensland : — 



" Poplar Gum. A Cabbage Gum. Timber will not, split. Excellent firewood. An entirely 

 smooth bark without flakes, a typical White or Cabbage Gum. Though not a very tall tree, it has a good 

 trunk, although often scrambling. Branches brittle, common from Gladstone northward." 



" A fairly common tree in the Eockhampton district, growing usually in moist, though not 

 necessarily in swampy places. Large smooth-barked trees, having a pendulous habit, with large poplar- 

 like leaves. Timber soft, red (when newly cut— J.H.M.) in colour, useless except for firewood, even this 

 of poor quality." Yeppoon (J. L. Boorman). Thirty-eight miles west of Mackay, Pioneer Eiver, and 

 tree common about Mackay. The young leaves when dry were 12 inches long by 11 inches broad. " On 

 full-grown tree the leaves are much smaller, and roundish in shape " (Sid. W. Jackson). Port Denison 

 or Bowcn (Dallachy); Pandanus Creek (E. B. Yearwood) ; "Many buds have double operculum when 

 collected," Townsville (E. H. Cambage, No. 3,801) Eeid Eiver, near Townsville (N. Daley), " Poplar 

 Gum," near Atherton and throughout the north. " Low stunted tree, spreading gnarled branches, while 

 bark, timber grey, very gnarled grain" (H. W. Mocatta, District Forest Inspector) Atherton (E. Betche). 

 These specimens (in bud) are in no way different from those of E. ■pastoralis. Ten Mile, Stannary Hills 

 (E. G. Shearer). 



