78 CHAPTER X. 



little pointed caps which have fallen from the opening 

 buds. Bentley explains these as formed by the connate 

 calyx-limbs ; Eichler appears to refer them to the 

 corolla. I have repeatedly found fruits with the 

 calyx-laminae quite distinct from the operculum, and 

 this makes Eichler's explanation much more probable. 

 The Globulus and some other species are said to ripen 

 their fruits on the Riviera under favourable circum- 

 stances. Seedlings are sometimes found below the 

 trees. 



The rapid growth of the Eucalyptus globulus is 

 remarkable ; the tree gains about eight feet a year in 

 this district, and even in the Isle of Wight a specimen 

 has been found to increase at the rate of an inch per 

 day during the Summer. Some species are said to 

 attain a height of nearly 300 feet, being surpassed 

 only by the Sequoia gigantea, of California. Among 

 the loftiest species is E. Amygdalina, next in point 

 of stature comes E. globulus. 



In the central provinces of Chili and in the 

 Island of Juan Fernandez the Eucalyptus globulus is 

 more frequented by humming-birds than any other 

 tree. A remarkable fact, if we reflect that the 

 Trochilidre are unknown in Australia, which is the 

 home of the Eucalyptus, and that for this reason the 

 flowers cannot be specially adapted to these birds. 

 So great is the attraction of the Globulus for different 

 species of Trochilus and Eustephanus that in 

 Santiago during the months of July arid August 

 these trees are surrounded by a host of humming- 

 birds. 



The wood of E. globulus is very hard ; a thing 

 scarcely to be expected in a tree of such rapid growth. 



