" Strhvijilxiriy I'Jii.r(d;//>ts. 177 



We examined (1) the seedlin<rs, (2) tlie flowers, and (3) the chemical 

 composition of the oil. 



(1) Tlif' scedJiiifiK. Many seeds of hoth the Elthain and Lilvdale 

 forms and. for comparison, seeds of about half-a-dozen more or less 

 similar species, were planted in small pots. 



The resulting; seedlings conclusively eliminated E. pilularis and 

 E. pugenioidfs. 1 



Seedlintrs of E. iiKtrrorlii/ni-lia. E. M iiellfriaiiH and E. ohlifjiin 

 api)ear indistinpfuishable in a photojiraph, althoutrh a closer examina- 

 tion show minor but definite differences in each case. Carefully selected 

 typical specimens of the seedlings examined are illustrated in Plate XT. 



(2) The flowers. — Although buds had been visible for several years, 

 no flowers were observed until the beginning of this year, when both 

 trees came into bloom, and the inflorescence was seen to be identical. 



The trees were covered with an abundance of prominent panicles of 

 bloom, white in colour and honey-scented. 



The buds in the early stages are narrow and pointed like those of 

 E. Diarrorlij/iirhd. but before flowering they become more swollen 

 and then more nearly resemble the Eastern form of E. Cnnnideninna 

 described by Maiden. 



Consideral)Ie searching in the district of the lower Yarra, especially 

 between Greensborough and Lilydale, has resulted in the discovery of 

 about a score of trees, several of Avhich have been most prolific in 

 bloom. 



It is certain that the species was much more couiuion in past 

 years throughout this district, and that the iiresent scarcity is due 

 to its selection by timber splitters, who look upon it as a superior 

 kind of messmate. Indeed, several of the trees that we have had 

 under observation have been cut down during the last few months 

 and utilised in this way. Ihe wood is a clean splitting and durable 

 fencing timber, and resembles that of the yellow stringybark {E. 

 }f iiflhridiHi), in appearance. 



{'^) ('licinicdl rdiii position of the oil. — This species nuiy possibly 

 be the '" peppermint " from which the firs-t eucalyptus oil was dis- 

 tilled by Surgeon Considen (one of the founders of Australia), after 

 whom the tree has been named by Maiden. In any case it is closely 

 related to E. piperita, the species generally supposed to have that 

 honour. In view of this possibility, it is fitting that a chemical 

 examination of its oil should be carried out and placed on record. 



The oil obtained from the leaves by steam distillation is perhaps 

 not an infallible criterion, but the work of Baker and Smith and, 



1 With reH:aiil to tht liitter we would point out that there appear to be two distinct varieties 

 which may possibly both lie worth\ of speeifie rank. The form compared here is the ordinary 

 variety occurring so plentifulh in Gippsland. 



.13 



