West Australia, bestowed the specific name on this tree seemingly for a double reason, because the foliage is far more beautiful than that of most Eucalypts, and also because the venation of the leaves reminds of that of the tropical genus Calophyllum of Linné.
Explanation of Lithogram. Plate II.
1, Longitudinal section of unexpanded flower; 2. Front view of a stamen; 3. Back view of a stamen; 4, Style with stigma; 5. Transverse section of fruit; 6. Longitudinal section of fruit; 7. Sterile seeds; 8. Fertile seeds; 9. Embryo.—1 to 4, magnified; 5 to 9, natural size.
The characteristics of this species are so similar to those of E. calophylla, that it is deemed unnecessary to offer a diagnosis. The diversity of E. ficifolia rests on the following points:—The tree is of smaller stature, the greatest height not exceeding fifty feet; the bark is generally still more deeply furrowed; the leaves are usually longer, more acuminate and less dotted; the calyces are on the whole rather larger, somewhat tinged with red, longer in proportion to their width; the filaments are of a magnificent crimson; the seeds are of a pale colour and provided with a membranous appendage. To this may be added, that the seedling at no time of its growth is conspicuously rough from bristlets, nor do the leaves even in the earliest period of the plant show the insertion to be supra-basal to the stalk.
The geographic distribution of this species is very limited; it extends, according to Messrs. Muir and Maxwell, from the western side of Irwin's Inlet to the mouth of the Shannon, the forests of this tree forming a belt not quite near to the coast nor very remote from it, the furthest distance inland being about eight miles. Hardly anything more gorgeous can be imagined than the forest of E. ficifolia about the month of February, when the brilliant trusses of flowers diffuse a rich red over the dark-green foliage of the whole landscape.
Although of the value of the timber nothing as yet is known, this species could not be passed in this report, it being even almost unknown to West Australian colonists, though its floral magnificence was demonstrated already in 1867 from trees reared by the writer in the Botanic Garden of Melbourne. More recently it has been introduced into the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, and into several other parts of the globe free of frost. A lucrative trade in seeds of E. ficifolia is sure to arise, as through my exertions this species, like many other West Australian plants, has now become widely appreciated.
The tree ought also in West Australia to be reared as an umbrageous, highly ornamental avenue-tree.
The species was first described from a mere fruiting branchlet, and received its name from the resemblance of its foliage to the leaves of several species of Ficus, of the series to which the Indiarubber Fig-tree belongs.
Only two other tall Eucalyptus-trees can perhaps be compared in floral splendour to the present species—namely, E. miniata (A. Cunningham, in A. Walpers's Repertorium, ii. 925, anno 1843), and E. phoenicea (F. v. M., in the Journal of the Linnean Society, iii. 91, anno 1859), both extending from Carpentaria into the most northern regions of the West Australian territory, the colour of their flowers being a fiery orange.
Explanation of Lithogram. Plate III.
1. Longitudinal section of unexpanded flower; 2. Front view of a stamen; 3. Back view of a stamen; 4. Pollen grains; 5. Style; 6. Longitudinal section of fruit; 7. Transverse section of fruit; 8. Sterile seeds; 9. Fertile seeds; 10. Embryo in situ; 11. Embryo unfolded.—All magnified. At the upper right-hand corner of the lithogram is shown the branch and leaves of a seedling plant.
