This new coniferous tree was recently discovered by Walter Hill, Esq., the Director of the Botanic Garden of Brisbane, at the Darlington Range of Queensland, where it attained a height of fully 60 feet. In its character it approaches nearest to Callitris Gunnei 1and C. fruticosa. It shows the coarse foliage of both, but the partitions of the branchlets are shorter than in C. Gunnei. From the latter, moreover, this new species is readily recognized by the pointed fruit-valves, which are quite of equal length. From Callitris fruticosa it differs besides in having no protuberances on the dorsal apex of the valves. Callitris actinostrobus (F. M., Essay on the Pl. of the Burdek. Exp. 19)2 is also closely allied to this new congener, so far as the equally 6-valved fruit is concerned; but the number of seeds remove the Sandarock Pine from the section Actinostrobus of Callitris, and bring it to the Frenela group. The seeds, not seen ripe, are seemingly 2-winged. The species is to bear the name of the illustrious Italian phytologist, who is now engaged in working up the noble coniferous Order for De Candolle's great work.3
Ferdinand Mueller.
Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, 17th May, 1866.
P.S. It seems not to be generally known that all true Frenelas not unfrequently produce some 3-winged seeds.
Actinostrobus
Callitris actinostrobus
Callitris fruticosa
Callitris Gunnei
Frenela
Please cite as “FVM-66-05-17a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on