241 



Normal leaves lanceolate, falcate, as in the type, with similar venation, 2 inches to 2 feet or more in 

 length, } inch to 3 inches broad, on petioles varying from 1 inch to 2 inches long ; oil-dots conspicuous. 



The fruits of this variety differ considerably in size and other features from the type; they measure 

 about J inch long to J inch in diameter. 



The edges of the compressed calyx are here seen to have developed into slightly broken ridges; 

 there is quite an absence of the tubercles so pronounced a feature on the type; the rim is sharp and well 

 defined, and slopes down or upwards to the summit of the valves, that vary in number from two to four. 



It is the seedling leaves, the presence of a calyptra in the early buds, the absence of double opercula 

 and the fruits which justify, in my opinion, the tree being given varietal rank. 



Then follows a plate of fruits of E. globulus and of the variety, but, unfortunately, 

 they s :e reduced in size, and, therefore, not easy to interpret. However, in 1920, in the 

 work about to be referred to, Mr. Baker speaks of E. St. Johni as if he had described it. 



The references to the species in "' Research on the Eucalypts " (Baker and Smith, 



2nd ed., 1920) are trivial, and are as follows : — ■ 



Page 135 (under E. globulus). " A small, smooth-fruited form that has a wide distribution, and seed 

 distributed abroad, is not E. globulus, but E. St. Johni R.T.B." 



Page 287 (under E. cocci/era). " The sessile fruits are near perhaps to those of E. St. John, except 

 that this rim is nearly flat." 



Surely this is not the way to describe a species at the close of the second decade 

 of the twentieth century. 



AFFINITIES. 



1. With E. globulus Labill. 



From type specimens placed at my disposal, the fruits of E. St. Johni (and the 

 reputed differences from E. globulus turn on the fruits), are figured at fig. 10, Plate 79, 

 Part XVIII, of the present work. The buds are roughened or tubercled. The points 

 made are that the fruits are sessile, small, and smooth. Neither is a constant character 

 as distinct from E. globulus. See the above plate. Most fruits of E. globulus are sessile. 

 As to size, the fruits vary from even smaller than described by Mr. Baker as for 

 E. St. Johni, to the very large fruits of E. globulus found in Tasmania. As regards 

 smoothness, examination of Plate 79 will show that the character is not rare in 

 E. globulus. See figs. 9a, b, c, and it will be observed that we may have roughness and 

 smoothness, with a considerable amount of variation in size, in the same restricted 

 area of trees. In my view, it is not a species, as distinct from E. globulus, and from 

 what I have just said, its acceptance as a variety would be likely to cause confusion. 



2. With E. Maideni F.v.M. 



For this species, see Plate 80 of Part XVIII. As regards size and smoothness 

 of the particular fruit chosen as typical of E. St. Johni, these characters are common 

 enough in E. Maideni, which may be both sessile and pedicellate. But whether 

 E. St. Johni can stand as a species can best be discussed under E. globulus. 



