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.
1. A bud in its infant state.
2.The calyptra or lid, when in perfection.
3.A chive magnified.
4. The pointal and seed-bud
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.