242 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 April, 1919. 



THE AUSTRALIAN FLORA FROM AN ORNAMENTAL 



ASPECT. 



(Continued from page 187.) 



Ediiard E. Fescott, F.L.S., F .R.H .S., Government Pomologist. 

 Gum Trees — continued. 



jSTow that the use of eucalyptus foliage, or " gum leaves " as they 

 are familiarly called, has become so universal for in-door decoration 

 purposes, it is well to mention certain species, of which cosmophylla is 

 one, which have handsome and decorative foliage. As is well known, 

 eucalypts have, at different stages, two types of foliage. The foliage 

 of the young plant in the seedling and " sucker " stage is known as 

 juvenile foliage, and it is usually far more decorative in appearance 

 than the mature or adult foliage. Very often, the juvenile foliage is 

 broad and roundish, while the adult foliage is narrow and long. The 

 broad, round leaves are the more sought after, particularly when they 

 bear that mealy vestiture which gives them a silvery-grey appearance. 

 Some eucalypts retain this silvery-grey or glaucous appearance even on 

 the adult foliage. Such a species is Eucalyptus tetragona, the -mealy 

 gum, which is really a tall shrub, growing to slightly over 20 feet. 

 So far back as 1827, this species was grown in England as a conserva- 

 tory pot i^lant, under the name of Eudesmia tetragona. The broad 

 leaves, and the stems, too, are very mealy in appearance, due to the 

 whitish waxy bloom with which they are covered. The white flowers, 

 too, are very beautiful. It is also known as Eucalytus pleurocarpa. 



Eucalyptus cordata, the white peppermint, as well as Eucalyptus 

 pulverulenta, the silver leaf stringy bark, also possesses this meali- 

 ness of foliage and stems, and the roundish leaves, which are 

 usually in pairs, opposite to each other, are very decorative. Such a 

 type of foliage is in appearance like the juvenile foliage of some species. 

 The following species, Gunnii, the Cider gum; populifoiia, the poplar 

 leaf gum; gamophyUa, the joined leaf gum; polyanthemos, the red box; 

 and others, all have this type of foliage. The apple gum. Eucalyptus 

 Stuartiana, too, has it in its juvenile stage of growth. The young 

 foliage of the blue gum. Eucalyptus globulus, is also very decorative on 

 account of this characteristic, and for the first three or four years the 

 young tree is very decorative in any shrubbery. Later on the tree is 

 very straggly, and quite unornamental. On account of the beauty of 

 its juvenile foliage, this species is largely grown as a conservatory pot 

 plant in the northern hemisphere. 



Eucalyptus alpina, the Grampians gum, a species found only in the 

 Grampians, in Victoria, has a fine shrubby habit, with rich, glossy, 

 green leaves, and good white flowers. This has been successfully grown 

 as a fine lawn specimen. 



For decorative trees in large gardens. Eucalyptus viaculata, the 

 spotted gum, may take pride of place. It is one of our most shapely 

 gums, with very good glossy foliage, having a wonderfully blotched 

 and mottled bark. About the end of the year, the old bark flakes off 

 in irregular patches, disclosing colourations of +>rown, cream, and pure 

 white. This characteristic of blotched and mottled bark is also 

 noticeable in the valuable timber tree, the river red gum. Eucalyptus 

 rostrata. This is one of the most ornamental of gums, and is to be 

 found in almost all parts of the Commonwealth. 



