NATURAL HYBRIDS, 



We now come to the main selection of such spontaneous hybrids as have come under 

 my notice in Australia. Now that attention has been prominently drawn to the 

 subject, with concrete instances, I confidently predict that records will be made of 

 very many more. 



The instances given include evidence in proof of the fact, to which I have 

 long since drawn attention, of the proneness of some of the Ironbarks and Boxes to 

 hybridise. 



Following is a list in those described in the present Part, and cognisance will be 

 taken of a few more in Part 54 : — 



x E. Barmedmanensis Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Tenandrensis Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Peacockeana Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Sto])fordi Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Forsythii Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Aubumensis Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Yagobiei Maiden, n.sp. 



x E. Blackburniana Maiden. 



x E. Studleyensis Maiden, n.sp. 



[Perhaps this will be an appropriate place for the following statement : — 



' The consideration of all these facts led me years ago to raise the question 

 whether hybrids could originate species (Oesterreich. hot. Zeitschr. xxi, 34, 1871), and 

 to answer it in the affirmative. Looked at from this point of view, the hybrids which 

 have been and are being produced in nature acquire a special significance, and it 

 becomes important to form a correct notion as to their existence, behaviour and 

 distribution in localities where the life of plants is untrammelled and undisturbed. 

 Only the vegetation of Europe has been thoroughly studied in this connection; yet 

 this alone affords a fund of information, and we may take it for granted that what 

 is true for Europe will apply likewise to the other quarters of the globe." (Kerner in 

 Kerner and Oliver, " The Natural History of Plants," ii, 582.)] 



