212 
Then follows a brief botanical description. One of the original specimens collected 
by Mitchell is before me as I write. The label reads—“ 1846, Novr. Camp. 84, sub¬ 
tropical New Holland, Lieut.-Col. Sir T. L. Mitchell,” and then Flceodendron 
maculosum in Lindley’s handwriting. The fruit was unknown at the time. 
The plant is a Flindersia, as already explained. If it were a mere question 
of F. Strzeleckiana, F.v.M., and F. maculata, F.v.M., as a specific name, then 
F. Strzeleckiana must be adopted, as it has a precedence of a few weeks. The 
Berlin rule of nomenclature No. 7* has been followed by Bentham in this case, 
intentionally or not. Its first specific name was maculosum (as Flceodendron ) and 
at present I call the plant “ F. maculosa , F.v.M., ex. Bentli., in B.F1. i, 388. 
Early Growth of tlie Tree. —In its early stage it forms a tangled mass of 
long thin branches. These branches are not spinous or prickly, but form a hedge, 
so that while stock (chiefly sheep) prune the peripheral branches they cannot eat 
the whole of them. As growth advances, a leading shoot shows itself and is pro¬ 
tected by the branchy entanglement which encircles the main stem for several feet. 
By degrees these tangled branches atrophy and leave more or less of the stout main 
stem with its characteristic blotchy or spotted bark. Sometimes the tangled 
branches persist for a considerable period near the ground, sometimes the stem is 
clean and the tangled mass is several feet up. In some cases the portion near the 
ground, in others that several feet above it, alone persists; in fact different trees 
show much variation. 
The life history of the trees is excellently shown in the accompanying three 
photographs by Mr. W. S. Campbell, which are taken from the Agricultural Gazette 
for November, 1899, p. 1167. 
Leaves. —During periods of drought sheep become exceedingly fond of the 
leaves of this tree, which they greedily devour, as well as the twigs up to the size of 
a goose-quill, and hence the tree is in danger of extermination, as it has not the 
recuperative power of some trees. This tree in particular should only be pollarded. 
Nature’s method of protecting it from browsing animals has already been alluded to. 
Mr. R. W. Peacock says :—f 
The “ Leopard Tree ” is very much prized for its fodder value, both cattle and sheep being very 
fond of it. It is one of the few which cattle thrive upon, and I have known milking cows fed almost 
solely upon it to give a fair quantity of milk. It is very easily recognised owing to its spotted appearance, 
which is due to the outer bark falling off in patches. It is fast becoming scarce owing to the partiality of 
stock for it. During its young stage the tree throws out a lot of angular lateral branches, which protect 
it in some measure. 
I have heard some people speak disparagingly of this tree, but upon extensive inquiries I find that 
their prejudices have not been substantiated, it being held in high esteem by those who feed very 
extensively upon it. It does not supply the quantity of foliage that many of the others do, although 
attaining the height of about 40 feet. 
*See my Presidential Address before the Linnean Soc. of N.S.W. ( Proc . xxvii, 702, 1902), where this matter is 
discussed at some length. 
f Agric. Gazette, N.S. W., April, 1899, p. 264. 
