DESCRIPTION. 



. CCLXXXI. E. Houseana (W. V. Fitzgerald) Maiden. 



In Joum. Royal Society, N.S.W., xlix, 319 (1915). 

 Following is the original description : — 



Arbor alta, altitudinem 80 feet attinens, aetate opposito-foliata florescens. Folia juvenia fere 

 amplexicaulia, petiolis brevibus vel absentibus, latissime lanceolata ad fere ovata, basi cordata, apice 

 obtusa, pallida saepa glauca, 8-12 cm. longa, 6-7 cm. lata. Venae patentes, venis principis fere 

 parallelibus, margine crassata. Folia matura petiolata, alternata, falcata, petiolis 2 cm. longis, foliis 

 ad 16 cm. longis et 4 cm. latis. Alabastri, pedunculis brevibus leniter planis, floribus sessilibus vel fere 

 sassilibus, 4-7 capitulo. Operculum hemisphaericuni circiter dimido cupula subangulare aequilongum. 

 Antherae aperintes in fissuris parallelibus, versatiles, dorso glandula magna. Fructus non vidimus. 



" Amongst the tallest of the tropical species, occasionally reaching a height of 80 feet." 



Particulars as to habit, bark, and timber, not available. 



[The following is supplementary information from Mr. Fitzgerald's MSS. " Height 40-70 feet, 

 trunk to 30 feet, diameter 1 J-2| feet, bark persistent, white to greyish-white, smooth ; timber reddish, 

 not very hard or tough. — Quoted by Maiden in Joum. Roy. Soc. N.S.W., li, 450, 1917.] 



Juvenile leaves. — The following description has been drawn up from specimens in the 

 flowering (or rather plump bud) stage; they represent, as far as we have them at present, the juvenile 

 leaf stage ; at the same time, they are mature to the extent that they are contemporaneous with the 

 inflorescence. Opposite, almost stem-clasping, the petioles being very short or absent ; very broadly 

 lanceolate to nearly ovate, cordate at the base, apex blunt pointed, margin sometimes undulate, pale 

 coloured, or entirely glabrous. Length 8-12 cm., width 6-7 cm. 



Venation spreading, the principal veins roughly parallel, and making an angle of approximately 

 60 degrees with the midrib ; the margin thickened, the intramarginal vein well removed from the edge, 

 the venation distinct, particularly on the lower surface. 



[From additional material collected by Mr. Fitzgerald, the following additions to the description 

 have been drawn up : — 



Juvenile leaves. — Slightly glaucous, equally green on both sides, slightly stem-clasping 

 around a nearly terete branchlet, oval to ovoid or broadly-lanceolate, tapering into a blunt or rounded 

 apex, up to 18 cm. (say 7 in.) long by 8 cm. (say 3|- in.) broad, secondary veins roughly parallel, at an 

 angle of about 60 degrees with the midrib and with abundance of fine anastomosing veins, the intramarginal 

 vein well removed from the edge. — Maiden in Joum. Roy. Soc. N.S.W., li, 450, 1917.] 



Mature leaves. — (Petiolate, alternate, lanceolate, falcate, with petioles of 2 cm., and leaves 

 up to 16 cm. long and 4 cm. wide. Venation distinct, the foliage pale-coloured and glabrous and the two 

 surfaces scarcely to be distinguished from each other.) 



