164 A RESEARCH ON THE EUCALYPTS OF TASMANIA 



The remarks made by Mr. Perrin when exhibiting the 

 material before the A.A.A.S. in 1890, that " he was of 

 opinion that the new claimant would be found to be a new 

 species," are now confirmed, for our investigations show 

 that it is distinct from any previously described, and is far 

 removed systematically from E. Gtmnii, Hook, f., with 

 which some affinity has been claimed for it. 



The following description of this species is from our 

 work " Eucalypts and their Essential Oils " : — 



Si/stematic description. — A " mallee " or small tree 

 attaining a diameter of 1^ feet and sometimes up to 30 

 feet in height, with a smooth bark. The broad, expanded 

 base, from which spring a number of small stems, is very 

 characteristic of this species. Branchlets terete and glauc- 

 ous. Leaves also glaucous, variable both in size and shape, 

 perfoliate, sessile cordate, orbicular, ovate, ovate-lanceo- 

 late, lanceolate elliptical, decussate, opposite or alter- 

 nate; venation faintly marked, lateral veins oblique, 

 spreading, intramarginal vein well removed from the edge. 

 Oil-glands very numerous. Flowers in short axillary 

 peduncles mostly, generally in threes, sessile or on a pedi- 

 cel. Calyx 2 to 3 lines long, 2 lines in diameter, bell- 

 shaped. Ovary flat-topped. Operculum shortly conical, 

 QdgQ overlapping the calyx. Stamens all fertile; anthers 

 parallel, opening by longitudinal slits. 



Fruits hemispherical to elongated or cylindrical, up to 5 

 lines long and under 3 lines in diameter, rim thickened, 

 capsule sunk. 



Timber. — A pale-coloured, rather soft, porous timber. 



Habitat.- — There appears to be only one locality known 

 where this species occurs in Tasmania, viz., that discovered 

 by Mr. G. Ellis, who showed the tree to Mr. Perrin. It 

 grows in swampy ground (the same as on Mt. Kosciusko, 

 N.S.W. — E.T.B.), about 2 miles beyond Strickland, 

 between the Oiise and Dee Rivers, 20 miles from Dee, at 

 a high elevation (1200 to 1500 feet). 



It is the same as that recorded by us on Mt. Kosciusko 

 in " Eucalypts and Essential Oils " (p. 20d). 



Chemistry. 



Esstntial Oil. — This material for distillation was col- 

 lected at Strickland in July, 1912. The average yield of 

 oil was 1 per cent. The crude oil was reddish in colour, 

 due to the iron from the still, for when this red colour was 

 removed the oil was a light amber tint. It contained a 



