608 OBSERVATIONS ON THE EUCALYPTS OF N.S.W., 
Then coming to Bentham's brief definition of variety radiata, 
he states that the "leaves are rather broader than tj^pe." He has 
probably followed in part Hooker (" Flora of Tasmania," p. 137) 
in his description of E. radiata : — "Leaves . . . rather small, 
usually 3 inches long . . . narrow, sometimes very much so, 
though not so narrow as E. amygdalina usually has them." We 
have already shown what is the average length of the leaves of 
the River White Gum. As regards the breadth, the leaves of 
the River White Gum are usually narrower (not broader) than 
those of typical N.S.W. forms of amygdalina. As regards the 
fruits, Bentham's variety is "almost pear-shaped." Here again 
Hooker is probably followed. The latter states fruits "turbinate 
or obconic, rather large." Neither in size nor shape does this 
correctly describe our River White Gum. As showing the 
difficulty of dealing with E. radiata, we may point out that 
(doubtfully) Hooker {op. cit.) quotes five forms of it in Tasmania 
alone. We would like to observe that Sieber's original specimen 
of E. radiata came from N.S.W., and not from Tasmania, and it 
would be well to modify Bentham's brief description in the direc- 
tions we have indicated, and not to follow a description of the 
variety made from Tasmanian forms. 
We have proved that our River White Gum does not entirely 
agree with Sieber's E. radiata nor with Bentham's var. radiata, 
and our tree is so well marked that had we decided that it was 
expedient to recommend the restoration of E. radiata. Sieb., to 
specific rank, we should probably have defined our River White 
Gum as a variety of the same. In that case, we might have 
called it filiformis in allusion to the pedicels. 
But after careful consideration we have decided to continue the 
River White Gum as a variety of amygdalina, though not without 
doubt. Close affinity between the type and var. radiata is shown 
b} T the seedling or sucker leaves; the type species approaches it 
sometimes in buds, mature foliage and even fruits, while we have 
shown the River White Gum sometimes to have rough bark. We 
may, perhaps, at some future time re-open the question. 
