Volume 6 — PLATE CCCC.

EUCALYPTUS RESINIFERA.

Resinous Eucalyptus.

CLASS XII. ORDER I.

ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. About Twenty Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx superus persistens truncatus, ante anthesin tectus operculo integerrimo deciduo. Corolla nulla. Capsula quadrilocularis, apice dehiscens polysperma.

Empalement above persistent truncated, before the flowering covered by an entire deciduous lid. Blossom none. Capsule four-celled, gaping at the point and many-seeded.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Eucalyptus, operculo conico tereti coriaceo calyce duplo longiori, umbellis lateralibus solitariis. Smith in Linn. Tr. 3. p. 284.—Willd. Sp. Pl. 2. 977.

Eucalyptus, with a conical columnar leathery lid twice the length of the empalement, and lateral solitary umbels.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This species of the genus Eucalyptus, a genus well characterized from the singular operculum, which, instead of a corolla, defends the infantile fructification from external injuries, is a native of New South Wales; and was introduced, by seeds from that country, into our gardens, along with some other Eucalypti, several years ago; but has never flowered in Britain until the present summer, in Lady de Clifford’s collection at Paddington, where our drawing was made in July last.

It is a shrub of considerable size, and handsome growth and foliage; and its younger shoots droop considerably, after the very elegant manner so much admired in the weeping willow.

But the most singular trait in the plant is its tardy and protracted mode of flowering. It has already shown flowers, which it will not expand until next July: they are scarce half the size they will then be, and have upon the tip of the large calyptra one of a far smaller size, but similar in shape, and which will soon fall off, as will also the large one, a little previous to the expansion of the stamina next July.

It requires a great deal of root-room, and rich earth; is a very hardy green-house plant, and has hitherto been propagated by imported seeds only.