UNDESCRIBED SPECIES OF LEPTOSPERMUM. 125 



L. Ldversidgei, apart from its chemical constituents, has 

 marked points of difference from cognate species. It was 

 at first thought to be one of the many varieties of L.flavescens 

 on account of its glabrous calyx, a common feature of all 

 the species placed systematically with that "tea" tree, 

 but the shape and disposition of the leaves, branchlets, size 

 of the flower and chemical constituents of the oil are facts 

 that we considered to be of sufficient importance to justify 

 its differentiation from that species. Typical L. flavescens 

 has an extensive range in the coast districts of all the 

 eastern States of the continent, and exhibits a marked 

 constancy of specific characters throughout its distribution 

 especially in the shape of the leaves, which as stated by 

 Smith in his original description, 1 "are linear, lanceolate, 

 obtuse and nerveless," — a description that does not apply 

 to the leaves of this species, which apart from the other 

 features quoted, may be said to be imbricate whilst 

 those of Smith's plant are loose and spreading. Bentham 

 (B.F1. iii., p. 104-5) gives a number of species and varieties 

 under L. flavescens, classifying them as : — 



(a.) commune — This includes Smith's specimen (regarded 

 as type) and one or two other species of different authorities. 



(b.) obovatum — With this variety are synonymised 

 Sweet's L. obovatum and Miquel's L. micromyrtus. This 

 is a plant more nearly approaching var. microphyllum, 

 having divaricate branches but distinct ovate leaves which 

 are flat and not recurved, and are much larger than those 

 of that var. or this new species. 



(c.) grandiflorum — Under this are placed L. grandiflorum, 

 Lodd., L. virgatum, Schau., L. nobile, F.v.M. The leaves, 

 flowers and fruits of this var. are longer and finer than those 

 of this new species and not so numerous and differently 

 shaped. 



1 Trans. Linn, Soc, in., p. 262. 



