464 



in many species of Eucalyptus a double operculum lias been observed; in these the outer operculum, 

 which generally separates at a much earlier stage, may, perhaps, be considered as formed of the calyx, 

 and the inner consequently of corolla alone, as in Eudesmia ; this view of the structure appears at least 

 very probable in contemplating Eucalyptus globulus, in which the cicatrix caused by the separation of the 

 outer operculum is particularly obvious, and in which also the inner operculum is of an evidently different 

 form." (So far we are dealing with the operculum of the single flower, J.H.M.) 



" Jussieu (Ann. Mus. 19, p. 432), seems inclined to consider the operculum of Eucalyptus as formed 

 of two confluent bractese, as is certainly the case with respect to the calyptra of Pileanthus* and of a 

 nearly related genus of the same natural family. This account of its origin in Eucalyptus, however, is 

 hardly consistent with the usual umbellate inflorescence of that genus ; the pedicelli of an umbel being 

 always destitute of bractese; and in E. globulus, where the flowers are solitary, two distinct bractese are 

 present, as well as a double operculum. But a calyptra analogous to that of Pileanthus exists also in most 

 of the species of Eucalyptus, where it is formed of the confluent bractese common to the whole umbel, ar.d 

 falls off at a very early period."' Robert Brown, " Gen. Remarks, Botany Terra Australis." (Flinders' 

 Voyage, 1814.) 



I860. Beniham remarks : 



" Bracts and bracteoles when present, so early deciduous as only to have been observed in a very 

 few species." (B. II., iii, 186 ) 



1883. Naudin: 



" In E. botryoides the floral umbels are at first enveloped in a sort of involucre composed of two. 

 leaflets fused one to the other, and which has a good deal of analogy with the corolline operculum which 

 has been spoken of above. Like this last, this involucre is detached altogether in a piece by circumcision 

 below the umbel, which is then as encased in a cupule of which the contour is more or less pointed, 

 sometimes reduced to a simple ring. It is possible that this peculiarity is present in other species, but is 

 the only example I know of so far."' (Mem. i, 352, footnote. Translation.) 



I have not noticed this " simple ring " in E. botryoides. I do not doubt its 

 presence for a moment, but it is probably analogous to what is shown in 4& and 4c of 

 Plate 171, E. pyriformis var. Kingsmilli, where there is shown either a " simple ring," 

 the scar of the bracts or involucre or perhaps of the expanded peduncle. 



1879-1884. Mueller: 



(1) " Umbels .... while very young enclosed within a pair of fugacious ar>d sometimes 

 diminutive bracts." (" Eucalyptographia,"' Definition of the Genus.) 



(2) " Buds of the umbels of E. doratoxylon enclosed in two connate bracts." (" Eucalyptographia." 

 See also E. coriacea, &c, below.) 



I have seen these bracts, more or less perfect, in a number of species, some of 

 which have been figured in the present work as indicated. I believe that if we are 

 fortunate to be early enough, we shall see them in all species, although they vary in 

 persistence. In a number of cases I believe that the thickening of the peduncle 

 exhibits the scar, which shows the base of the former connate or conjoint pair of 

 enveloping bracts. (See E. pyriformis below.) 



E. altior (Syn. E. oreades). — Fig. 7e, Plate 44. In this figure the bracts are 

 beginning to be lifted from the base and to be longitudinally separated. 



E. brachyandra. — See fig. e (lower fig.), Plate 127, where there is one small, almost 

 persistent, leafy bract. 



* In Pileanthus of Western Australia (B. Fl. iii, 34) we hive ten equal p^tal-like calycine lobes, five petals exceeding 

 the calyx, scarious bracteoles, united and enclosing the bud, cireumseiaa at or below the middle, and falling off together. 



