328 J. H. MAIDEN. 



Galls — At one time I inclined to the opinion that the 

 shapes of the leaf-galls in Eucalyptus would be a useful 

 character for classification. Mr. W. W. Froggatt, who 

 has of late years been giving special attention to Brachy- 

 scelidae, finds that the same insect frequents so many 

 species that no general grouping of the trees based on their 

 galls can be made. 



Inflorescence — Professor Tate points out that the usual 

 form of inflorescence is an umbel which by lengthening of 

 the axis passes to the panicle or corymb. The transition 

 from one to the other is so easy, he goes on to remark, 

 and often exemplified on the same tree, that it is obvious 

 the form of the inflorescence is not reliable as a specific 

 character. Bentham had previously drawn attention to 

 the unsatisfactory character of the arrangement of the 

 inflorescence from the point of view of the systematise 



Naudin's grouping (second memoir) of 56 species (or 

 reputed species) known to him as growing in the gardens 

 of Provence, is mainly based on the inflorescence, but also 

 depends on the fruits and leaves. It doubtless was of local 

 value, but it is based on characters which present so much 

 variation as to preclude its general application. Following 

 is an abstract in Gardeners' Chronicle, 7th February, 1891 : 

 Section I. Inflorescence in cymes or axillary umbels. 



Capsules longer than the calyx tube. 



Capsules shorter than the calyx tube. 



(a) Cymes three flowered. 



Leaves uniform, opposite. 

 Leaves uniform, alternate. 

 Leaves of two shapes. 



(b) Cymes of 3 to 7 or more flowered. 

 Cymes 7 flowered. 



Leaves uniform opposite. 



Leaves of two shapes, opposite at first. 



Leaves uniform, always alternate. 



