80 EUCALYPTS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Climatic requirements— -This species grows fairly well in quite a 

 variety of situations in the coast region of California, but will not 

 thrive in the dry, hot valleys of the interior. It will endure minimum 

 temperatures of 18° to 20° F., and maximum temperatures of 110° to 

 112° F., but it makes very slow growth under such trying conditions. 



JJ 8es , — The timber of the Broad-leafed Ironbark, as of other Iron- 

 barks, is strong and durable. It is used for bridge building, for posts, 

 sleepers, railway ties, and for other similar purposes where strength 

 and durability are desired. It makes a fair fuel, burning very slowly. 



Eucalyptus sideroxylon. 

 Bed Ironbark. 



Characteristics— The Red Ironbark is a tree of medium to large 

 size. It usually grows erect, with an even trunk, having numerous 

 side branches, especially towards the top. It never grows to a great 

 height. The bark is the hardest and darkest of the Ironbarks, the 

 color usually being a dark red or brown. It is furrowed and cracked, 

 and studded with beads of the kino that exudes from it. The whole 

 appearance of the tree, with its rough, dark bark, its silvery, narrow 

 leaves, and daintily colored flowers is quite distinctive, contrasting 

 strongly with the smooth-barked, broader-leafed species of the genus. 

 (PI. XLV.) The wood is a dark red, and is very hard and heavy. 

 The leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, often curved, and usually have 

 a more or less evident silvery surface, the leaves of the seedlings being 

 very similar to those of the adult tree. (See PI. LXXXVI, b.) The 

 flowers are somewhat above medium size, in clusters of 3 to 8. In 

 color they vary from a light pink to scarlet. The covering of the 

 flower-bud is cone-shaped, often sharp-pointed. The seed cases are 

 nearly cup-shaped. (See PI. LXXVIII.) 



■Climatic requirements. — In Australia the Red Ironbark is most 

 abundant on the stony, sterile portions of gold-producing districts, 

 enduring considerable drought and heat. In California it thrives in 

 dry soil near the coast, and on the plains and hillsides of many of the 

 interior valleys. It endures minimum temperatures of 16° to 20° F., 

 and maximum temperatures of 110° to 112° F., but makes a very slow 

 and indifferent growth under such conditions. It has proven to be 

 entirely unsuited to the hot, interior valleys of California and Arizona. 



Uses. — The Red Ironbark is one of the very useful Eucalypts. 

 While the timber is not prized as highly in Australia as that of other 

 Ironbarks, it is nevertheless valuable for many purposes. Its princi- 

 pal uses are for bridge construction, for railway ties, for girders and 

 large beams in buildings, for joists, for posts, for the hubs, spokes. 

 and shafts of vehicles, and for a great variety of other purposes where 

 strength and durability are required. On account of its shape and 



