240 



XCV1IL E. globulus Labill.. 



SYNONYMS. 



1. E. globulus Labill., var. St. Johni, R. T. Baker, Journ. Aust. Assoc. Adv. 



Science, xiv (January, 1913). Also E. St. Johni, R. T. Baker. 



2. Vict. Nat., xxx, 127 (November, 1913). 



As regards the first reference, Mr. Baker says : " Or sp. nov. . . . Tentatively 

 placed as a variety." The description, however, is not sufficient for a new species, nor 

 indeed has the brief Latin description been given, as required by botanical law. Then 

 we have " On a new variety of Eucalyptus globulus — E. globulus, var. St. Johni.," by 

 R, T. Baker, in Vict. Nat., xxx, 127 (November, 1913). 



Following is the pamper : — 



The Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., has such an extensive range from Southern Tasmania 

 through Victoria to the north of New. South Wales, and preserves such a constancy of general morphological 

 characters, that a departure from the normal is of systematic interest ; and the honour is due to a Victorian 

 for unearthing this variety. It was discovered by Mr. P. R. H. St. John, on the banks of the Lerderberg 

 River, Bacchus Marsh district, 5th November, 1903, so that at present its location is restricted; but 

 this appears to be the general rule when new species or varieties are discovered. At least a hundred 

 similar trees are growing in the neighbourhood, and there is little doubt but that it will be found to be 

 more widely distributed later on.* 



The other species of Eucalypts growing within a square mile of this particular tree are as follows : — 

 E. amygdalina, E. Behriana, E. elceophora, E. leucoxylon, E. ■melliodora, E. macrorrhyncha, E. hemiphloia, 

 E. polyanthemos, E. sideroxylon, E. vimindlis. 



The material collected by Mr. St. John is quite complete, consisting of (a) seedling; (b) adventitious 

 shoots, obtained from branch of tree 8 feet from the ground, the tree about 20 years old ; (c ) leaves from 

 a young tree 6 feet high; (d) leaves from young tree 12 feet high; (e) twig from mature tree, with early 

 buds, mature buds and flowers ; (/) twig with fruits from mature tree. The young seedlings have ovate- 

 lanceolar, acuminate, petiolate leaves, glaucous above, under surface purplish ; the cotyledons or seed- 

 lobes are on slender stalks, and deeply bi-lobed. 



(a) The older seedling leaves are oval, sessile, or shortly petiolate, and slightly or not at all cordate ; 

 shortly acuminate; not large, about li inches to 2 inches long, and | inch to \\ inch or more wide; pale 

 and glaucous on the under side, oil-dots numerous, stem terete, branchlets square. 



(b) Similar in shape to those of (a), only longer. 



(c) The leaves of the adventitious shoots are longer, orbicular, cordate, lateral veins slightly oblique, 

 parallel, and looping some distance from the edge ; branchlets rectangular. 



(d) These are large, petiolate, oval, to oval-lanceolate, showing intermediate stage to normal leaves. 



(c) This is an interesting specimen, as it shows the inflorescence in every stage. The early stages 

 are characterised by a calyptra, covering two or three buds. The mature buds are more like those of 

 E. MaiH-eni than E. globulus, and differ from the latter in the absence of a second operculum. The calyx 

 is compressed, sessile, about -^ inch long, J inch and less in width, operculum acuminate, depressed, tuber- 

 culate, stamens inflexed before expansion ; anthers parallel, opening by longitudinal slits. 



* This variety has since been discovered in South and East Gippsland. B.T.B. 



