1887-88.] Note on Eucalyptus globulus. 165 



IX.— NOTE ON EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS. 

 By Mr HUGH FRASER. 



(Read March 3S, ISSS.) 



This plant is one of some 150 species, all, or nearly all, 

 )iatives of Australia, and belonging to the Natural Order of 

 the Myrtacete. Australia is the headquarters of the genus. 

 The majority of them are trees growing to an immense height, 

 and having proportionately thick trunks. The whole genus 

 supplies timber of a strong, durable quality, which is used very 

 largely throughout the southern hemisphere in shipbuilding, 

 implement-making, and engineering work. It is also cultivated 

 extensively in the malarious regions of many of the warmer 

 parts of the world, especially in the Mediterranean region and 

 in some districts of Italy. It will be in the recollection of 

 many of the members that it was very extensively planted a 

 few years ago on the island of Cyprus, with a view to correct 

 the malaria which was so fatal to Europeans, with, it is said, 

 the most happy results. 



The most valuable species of the genus is E. globulus, 

 popularly known as the Blue-gum tree. It is abundant 

 naturally, and is also extensively cultivated. Of late years it 

 has become famous as a febrifuge, and a great many properties 

 of a medical kind have been ascribed to the various prepara- 

 tions of the leaves, the oil from which is said to be antiseptic, 

 while in a dried state, smoked in the form of cigars, they have 

 been recommended as a palliative in asthma. This plant ranks 

 among the fastest-growing and the tallest of all known trees. 

 I have known young plants two years from seed attaining a 

 height of 4 feet ; and it has been known to reach the height of 

 120 feet, with a circumference of 9 feet in the trunk, in twelve 

 years. Specimens have been found in its native woods 400 

 feet high. 



What suggested this communication was the curious change 

 which the leaves undergo in form and general appearance 

 as the tree advances in age. In young plants the leaves 

 are always opposite, destitute of footstalk, broadly ovate, and 

 covered with a white dust on both surfaces. At a height of 

 about 15 feet, however, a set of leaves of quite a different 



