IS EUCALYPTUS VARIABLE ? 333 



"This constancy is accounted for by the author on the geological 

 age of this continent, for whilst other continents have undergone 

 subsidences and upheavals, Australia has stood still or remained 

 stationary, thus giving the plants enormous periods of time for 

 differentiation, so that the "missing links" naturally are wanting." 1 



And again: — 



"In this paper the author endeavours to show that much of the 

 hitherto supposed variability of specific characters of our Eucalyptus 

 trees is the result of various artificial classifications applied to the 

 species in the past, whereas, if classified on what appears to be a 

 natural basis, the species possess very little, if any, variability, 

 and retain in a marked degree individual character through their 

 whole area of distribution. Each species is taken seriatim to 

 prove a want of variation in its specific characters." 2 (The italics 

 are mine). 



Further: — 



"By following a natural classification, that is, one founded on 

 a long and intimate acquaintance with the trees in nature, their 

 habits and places of growth, the form and qualities of their seed, 

 the manner of their elevation, increase and reproduction, the 

 peculiarities of their radication, their interior substances, the 

 infinitely varied formation of their vascular system (by which the 

 plant is not only enabled to circulate the juices necessary to its 

 support), the peculiar qualities of seeds, salts, gums, resins, oils 

 by which they are distinguished, and all other constituents on 

 which their natural combination so ultimately depends, almost all 

 traces of variability disappear, and the above anomaly or difficulty 

 in timber identification would be obviated." 3 



Messrs. Baker and Smith 4 further state : — 

 "We are now able to demonstrate most fully that of all the 

 numerous peculiarities of the Eucalypts not one is of greater value 



1 " On the constancy of the specific characters of the genus Eucalyptus." 

 Proc. Aus. Assoc, for Adv. of Sci., Melbourne Meeting, 1900. 



2 R. T. Baker, op. cit. 3 Op. cit. 

 4 This Journal, xxxv., 121. 



