53 
GROUP III. E. POLYANTHEMOS. 
stalklets under %in.; young buds angular, curved inward, and very sharp-pointed; 
anthers kidney-shaped with divergent connected openings. Ripe seed-cups in 
three forms as follows:— 
(a) With contracted neck like an urn or decanter. 
(b) Egg-shaped with very small orifice and thin rim. 
(c) Spherical with wider orifice and thicker rim. 
Depth of cups from H in. to %in. If the student will carefully note the 
persistent “peppermint” bark and sharp-pointed, curved, and angular buds ot E. 
piperita, he will easily determine the species even when the seed-cups may cause 
some doubt. Mature woon pale, fissile, of medium quality. 
CULTIVATION IN NEW ZEALAND. 
E. piperita is vigorous over a wide range in the North Island, and certainly 
ranks as a useful timber yielder; but in nearly all localities it could be replaced 
by trees of superior merit, such as E. eugenioides, E. fastigata, and E. obliqua. 
39. E. POLYANTHEMOS Schauer. 
NATURAL HABITAT, DESCRIPTION, AND USES. 
This species is widely distributed in Victoria and New South Wales, chiefly 
on hilly country at altitudes from 1,000ft. to 2,000ft. In favourable situations 
the trees reach heights up to 60ft. and 70ft. and diameters up to 2 ft.; but as 
usually seen, they are smaller. The dead bark falls away from the branches but 
generally persists on the stem and is there of the flaky sub-fibrous box type, 
living bark and sapwood white. Leaves in juvenile stage already stalked 2m o 
Sin. or more in length and nearly the same in width; on adult trees e ther still 
round or oval, or long and slightly falcate; colour dull green. Umbel with several 
flowers; stalk %in„ stalklets !Un.; lid of bud very low and small 
point; anthers with terminal and oval or nearly circular openings Ripe seed- P 
about 3/16in. in depth and in lateral diameter on very short stalklet, run thin and 
often cracked; valves below rim. The umbels frequently appear in compound 
clusters at the ends of the twigs; whence the specific name, which means many- 
flowered. Mature wood red, hard, valuable for technical work, and long last g 
in the ground; much valued by surveyors for pegs. 
CULTIVATION IN NEW ZEALAND. 
It may help the student to remark here that E. popuhfoha, a similar but 
inferior tree to E. polyanthemos, is distinguished by having shiny green poplar- 
similar but valuable tree, by the yellow colour of, stag 
hark and sapwood; and E. Dawsoni by its habit of shedding nearly all its dead b . 
E. polyanthemos will grow in many parts of the North Dknd, but should not b 
further planted unless seed can he obtained direct from certified and appro 
trees on upland country in Victoria or New South Wales. 
