28 EUCALYPTS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



trees that attain, when full grown, a height of 100 to 300 feet. This 

 early blooming greatly facilitates their identification and their propa- 

 gation from seed. The flowering periods of the different species vary 

 considerably , extending through the entire year. Some species remain 

 in blossom a large portion of the year, some bloom during two dis- 

 tinct periods of the year, while of others the flowering season is quite 

 limited. 



The flowers usually grow in clusters, which botanists call umbels, 

 rarely singly. The clusters are borne at the leaf axils or at the ends 

 of branches, usually singly; but in some species several clusters are 

 found arranged in what botanists call a panicle. The unopened flower 

 buds are hermetically sealed by a close covering that corresponds to 

 the outer leaves, or calyx, of most other flowers. It was this close 

 covering of the flowers that suggested to L'Hertier, the botanist who 

 discovered and named the genus, the name Eucalyptus, the word 

 meaning in Greek " well concealed. " As the flower opens, the upper 

 part separates as a lid and falls away, while the lower half of the 

 calyx remains permanently and incloses the developing seeds. At the 

 same time there falls away a less conspicuous under covering that is 

 thought to correspond to the petals of other flowers. The flowers 

 when open, therefore, are destitute of any enveloping 'flower leaves. 

 The stamens constitute the most conspicuous feature of the opened 

 flowers, being usually very numerous. They differ considerably in 

 color, the prevailing tint, however, being greenish or yellowish white. 

 Of some species the stamens are highly colored, thus causing the 

 flowers to be strikingly beautiful, and consequently highly prized for 

 ornament. 



THE SEEDS. 



The persisting portion of the calyx becomes a firm, tough covering 

 for the seed case, which endures much weathering and usually remains 

 on the tree for a considerable period. The seed cases of the different 

 species vary in size from one-eighth of an inch to 1 inch in diameter. 

 The shapes are various, the prevailing forms being that of a cup, a 

 goblet, a top, or an egg. As the seed cases mature the upper cover- 

 ing separates into from three to five tooth-like bodies termed valves, 

 and the seeds fall out between them. The valves when open either 

 project from the mouth of the seed case or are included in it. The 

 shape of the seed case and the position of the valves peculiar to each 

 species furnish valuable data for determining the name of a Eucalypt. 



The seeds are, with a few exceptions, quite small and very numerous, 

 many, however, usually being infertile. The smallness of the seeds (the 

 usual length being 0.04 to 0.1 inch) makes their transportation easy 

 and the rearing of young plants on a large scale practicable. The 

 number of young plants that the seeds of a single tree would produce 

 per year is enormous. 



