AUSTRALIAN HYBRIDS. 



E. sideroxylon A. Cunn., and E. leueoxylon F.v.M. 



(a) As I had seen specimens which, in my view, showed hybridism between 

 E. sideroxylon A. Cunn. and E. leueoxylon F.v.M., I some years ago wrote to Mr. J. 

 Blackburne, then Secretary of the National Forest League of Maryborough, Victoria, 

 drawing his attention to the subject. In a few weeks he sent me four specimens from 

 the Maryborough district. 



No. 1 is typical E. sideroxylon A. Cunn., " Red lronbark." Timber red, bark 

 furrowed. 



No. 4 is typical E. leueoxylon F.v.M., called by Mr. Blackburne " Smooth-barked 

 lronbark."' Timber pale, bark smooth. I wrote to Mr. Blackburne in regard to his 

 use of the term " lronbark " for this species, it being often termed " White lronbark " 

 in Victoria, although there is often little or no " iron " bark. To this he replied : 

 "I think Victorian writers in speaking of ' White lronbark ' undoubtedly referred to 

 E. leueoxylon. I know that Howitt did so. Another tree, E. Sieberiana, is sometimes 

 alluded to as White or White-topped lronbark, but I think you can rest assured that 

 E. leueoxylon is the tree generally meant. E. leueoxylon is not altogether a white wood, 

 although the heart wood is much paler in colour than sideroxylon. " 



His Nos. 2 and 3 he described in the following words : — 



" No. 2 has a thin, brown bark, lighter in colour than No. 1, and not so deeply 

 furrowed; the upper portion of the trunk and branches are smooth, like No. 4." 



" No. .3 has at the lower part of the stem or trunk the deeply furrowed, dark- 

 coloured bark of No. 1, changing then for some feet into the type of No. 2 (thin and 

 brown). Higher up it becomes thinner and flaky in texture. Upper portion of stem 

 and branches like No. 4 (Gum top)." 



He then adds— ' You will, of course, understand that lronbark trees shoAving 

 hybrid forms are not common in our young forest, being only occasionally met with." 



I have received from Mr. Blackburne a complete suite of herbarium specimens, 

 bark and timbers of these trees. They bear out his descriptions. Nos. 2 and 3 are 

 intermediate between Nos. 1 and 4, and on these specimens alone I fail to see how the 

 fact that E. sideroxylon and E. leueoxylon hybridise can be resisted. 



(b) The following two specimens, both collected by Mr. W. S. Brownscombe, 

 of Messrs. J. Bosisto & Co., of Melbourne, from Black Waterholes, near Redcastle, 

 Victoria, are, in my opinion, hybrids of the above species. 



II A. Bark rough, black, rugged, but not grooved like E. sideroxylon. Upright 

 habit, bark on branches of a bluish-grey hue, and deciduous, like the upper branches 

 of E. hemiphloia. 



12a. Tree upright in habit, 2 feet in diameter at butt. Bark having resin-deposits 

 in layers, characteristic of E. sideroxylon ; bark at butt black, inclined to be grooved, but 

 rugged, gradually getting less rugged, but persistent and black to the smaller branches, 

 thence smooth. 



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