554 



Speaking of E. erythrocorys, Part XLV, p. 135, I refer to .... " four 

 equidistant ribs or spoke-shaped processes which, enclose four shallow troughs which 

 are filled with honey, and are therefore nectaries." These troughs are morphologically 

 formed by the raised wheel-shaped disc, and the upper portion of the calyx. There is 

 also a deep ovarian nectary around, the base of the style. They can easily be seen in 

 the immature fruits of large species such as erythrocorys, p>yriformis , macrocarpa. They 

 may be mere honey-troughs ; on the other hand, these discal surfaces secrete honey 

 (nectar) in other plants besides Eucalyptus. It appears to do so in that genus as well 

 as supplying storage reservoirs. 



In E. erythrocorys the nectar-trough or honey storage cavity may in addition 

 be a functioning nectary ; that is to say, its carnose lining (variously known as " discal 

 lining," " discal space," " discal cavity ") exudes or elaborates the nectar. In 

 E. robusta there are four or five deep ovarian nectaries, similar, but deeper than 

 those of E. tetradonta (which are closely related to E. erythrocorys). 



The matter is, of course, of direct practical importance to the apiarist, and for 

 that reason alone I hope that the flowers of Eucalyptus will be investigated in this 

 direction at an early date. 



Some general notes on the subject will be found on Eucalyptus flowers and 

 honey under E. hemiphloia in my " Forest Flora of New South Wales," Part VI, p. 132. 

 In the same work we have " Notes as to the flowering periods of a few Eucalypts," 

 Part LXIV, p. 169, " Honey and Eucalyptus Flowers." The notes are enumerated 

 under States and species (p. 177-188.) There are useful articles on " Bee-keeping and 

 Forests," by W. Somerville in " Jarrah," Aug., 1920, p. 19, and " Flowering of 

 Eucalypts " (W.A.) in " The Australian Forestry Journal," June, 1921, p. 173. 



Mr. Max Koch told me that he has heard it said by orcharclists that when 

 E. calophylla is in full bloom, every other year or so, the fruit-crops are almost free from 

 the ravages of the Silver-eye (Zosterops gouldii) (great devourers of ripe fruit). The 

 same remark would probably apply more or less to the honey-laden blossoms of other 

 Corymbosee. 



Colour. 



Bentham (B.F1. iii, I860) does not often mention colour. He had little 

 opportunity of doing so, as he could rarely have seen fresh filaments. He has — 



" Pale-coloured " — E. hemiphloia, E. pachyloma, E. patens. 

 " Dark-coloured "—.E. Oldfieldii. 

 " Richly-coloured " — E. minidta. 

 " Orange or scarlet " — E. phmiicea. 

 " White or red " — E. tetraptera. 



The genus Eucalyptus, which comprises about 350 species, comes second only 

 to Acacia in point of number amongst Australian genera, but it is so widespread arid 

 so abundant that it is the most numerous in individuals of any. The vast majority 



