542 GREY GUM OF THE NORTH COAST DISTRICTS, 
process is indefinitely repeated. The bark closely resembles, and 
is perhaps not to be distinguished from, that of E. punctata. 
Timber. — Dark coloured, and so closely resembling Red Iron- 
bark ( E. siderophloia ) that care is required to distinguish the two 
timbers. Inclined to have rings or "scabs" of kino, which 
diminishes the demand for it for sawn stuff. Very durable in or 
out of the ground, but its tensile strength inferior to that of the 
Ironbark already referred to. 
Seedling leaves. — More broadly lanceolate, and with the 
marginal vein more distant from the edge, than in the case of the 
mature leaves. At first opposite. 
Mature leaves. — Narrow lanceolate and very uniform. Average 
length 4-5 inches, breadth J inch. Veins not prominent, lateral 
veins nearly parallel; marginal vein on or very close to the edge 
of the leaf as a very general rule. Edge usually slightly recurved. 
Peduncles flattened. 
Calyx-tube hemispherical, and longer than the operculum. 
Sometimes with the angles of the flattened pedicel decurrent. 
Floivers in a marked manner pedicellate; usually in tens, but 
the umbels containing as few as five flowers. 
Operculum hemispherical in general outline, but with a low 
pointed apex. 
Stamens inflexed before expansion, the anthers opening by 
parallel slits, and all fertile. 
Fruit very uniform in size, about 2 J lines broad by 1J lines 
deep. Usually 4-celled. Occasionally 3-celled; 5-celled not seen 
at present. The rim usually shows two sharp edges, with the 
intervening space concave. The valves are well exserted. 
The fruits, as regards the rim and general contour, considerably 
resemble those of the smaller forms of E. resiaifera, more so than 
those of E. punctata. 
Affinities. — The affinities of E. propinqua are with E. saligna 
and E. punctata, contiguous species in Baron von Mueller's Census. 
