AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



535 



T > weU ' and o > c v e r 



as with a lid ; limb of the calyx covering the flower before 

 expansion, and afterwards falling off in one piece in the 

 shape of a lid or cover). Gum-tree. Including Wdesmta 

 ORD. Myrtacea:. A genus of 140 or more species of tall 

 evergreen greenhouse trees, with very few exceptions 

 natives of Australia, where they constitute a large por- 

 tion of the forest vegetation. Peduncles axillary, one- 

 flowered, or bearing an umbel of from three to fifteen 

 flowers. Leaves quite entire, coriaceous, usually alternate 

 very variable, even in the same tree, quite glabrous except 

 in a very few of the species. It is worthy of remark that 

 the Gum Trees, though among the largest trees in the 

 world, have very small, or even minute, seeds. In their 

 native country, the Eucalypti form extensive forests, 

 and grow very fast, some of them reaching an immense 

 height and having trunks in the same proportion. The 

 timber is extremely durable, and is largely used by colonial 

 ship-builders, implement-makers, engineers, &o. None of 

 the species attain a size sufficiently large for use as timber 

 in this country, as they are not hardy enough to withstand 

 a severe winter outside. Several' succeed on a south wall 

 with protection in winter, and all are useful decorative 

 greenhouse plants. They are called Gum Trees in conse- 

 quence of the quantity of gum that exudes from their 

 trunks. E. globulus, the Blue Gum, one of the most 

 valuable timber trees of the Southern hemisphere, is also 

 largely cultivated in many parts of the world, especially 

 in the Mediterranean region and in malarious districts 

 in Italy. Further, it is the species grown more than 

 others in this country for its value in sub-tropical gar- 

 dening, the leaves being of a distinct glaucous hue, and 

 quite different from those of any other plant similarly 

 employed. Eucalypti are best raised from imported seeds, 

 which generally vegetate freely. They should be sown 

 thinly in pots or pans of light sandy soil, and placed in 

 a little heat. E. globulus, when intended to be used for 

 sub-tropical bedding or for a group on a lawn, is best 

 sown in August and grown on through the winter for use 

 the following season. By this method, much larger and 

 better plants may be obtained than when sowing is de- 

 ferred till spring. It is best to raise new plants each year, 

 as lifted ones do not regain their beauty of the preceding 

 season, and they cannot be depended on to stand outside, 

 at least, not in many places. Being fast growing plants, 

 considerable space must be allowed when they become 

 established, either in the open ground or in pots. A rather 

 rich soil, composed of loam and decayed manure, with the 

 addition of some charcoal, to keep it open, is most suit- 

 able. E. citriodora is very useful for growing in small 

 pots for the conservatory, its scented leaves rendering it 

 a general favourite. Comparatively few of the species 

 are grown in this country. 



E. amygdollna (almond-leaved), fl., peduncles axillary or 

 lateral, nearly terete, with four to eight flowers. I. alternate, 

 linear-lanceolate, Sin. long, three lines broad, attenuated at the 

 base. 1820. A moderate sized or large tree. (B. M. 3260. ) In 

 the Museum, No. 1, at Kew, there is a photograph of the base 

 of a tree from Victoria, known as " Big Ben." The tree measured 

 56ft. in circumference, at base, and was 400ft. high. This species 

 forms the highest of all known trees ; one is recorded measuring 

 470ft. high, far exceeding even the well-known Giant-trees of 

 California (Sequoia, girjantea). 



E. calophylla (beautiful-leaved), fl. rather large, in a terminal 

 corymbose panicle, with one or two sometimes in the upper axils ; 

 umbels loose; peduncles flattened, or nearly terete; pedicels 

 longer than the calyx tube. I. ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or lan- 

 ceolate, obtuse or mucronate, acute, rather rigid, with numerous 

 transverse parallel veins, the intramarginal one scarcely distant 

 from the edge. A very beautiful tree. (B. M. 4036, under name 

 of E. splachnicarpa.) 



E. citriodora (lemon-scented).* I. oblong-lanceolate, covered 

 with glandular hairs, which, when gentlv rubbed, emit a power- 

 ful odour, resembling that of the lemon-scented Aloysia. 

 Australia. An interesting greenhouse plant. 



E. ooccifera (Coccus-bearing).* fl. purple ; peduncles axillary or 

 lateral, terete, or slightly compressed, bearing each an umbel 01 

 four to eight flowers. December. /. in the usual form mostly 

 ovate-lanceolate, falcate and very oblique at the base, more or 

 less acuminate, 4in. to 6in. long, thick with very oblique distant 



Eucalyptus continued. 



anastomosing veins, the intra-marginal one at some distance 

 from the edge. A small, generally very glaucous, tree. SYN. 

 E. daphnoides. (B. M. 4637.) There fa a variety oarmfora. 

 having smaller flowers, and extremely short peduncle! 



E. cordata (heart-shaped). A synonym of E. pulverulenta. 



E. cornuta (horned), fl. red, yellow ; peduncles axillary terete 

 or slightly compressed, each bearing six to twelve, or even more 

 flowers, sessile, but not immersed in the receptacle I lanceolat 

 or ovate-lanceolate, mostly under 4in. long, rather 'thick the 

 veins irregularly oblique, the intramarginal one at a distance 

 ft. the edge. A tall shrub or small tree, with a smooth bark! 

 (B. M. 6140.) 



E. daphnoides (Daphne-like). A synonym of E. coccifera. 

 E. gigantea (gigantic). A synonym of 



Fie. 737. YOUNO TREK OP EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS, showing Habit 



E. globulus (globuled).* Blue Gum-tree, fl. large, axillary, 

 solitary, or two or three together, closely sessile on the stem, 

 or on a peduncle not longer than thick. I., of the young tree 

 opposite, sessile, and cordate ; of the full grown tree, lanceolate 

 or ovate-lanceolate, nearly falcate, 6in. to 12in. long. A. some- 

 times exceeding 300ft. 1810. See Fig. 737. The leaves of this 

 and other species have been supposed to possess febrifugal 

 properties. Smoked in the form of cigars, they have been recom- 

 mended in asthma. The oil obtained from the leaves is anti- 

 septic. 



E. Gunnil (Gunn's).* Cider-tree of Tasmania. /. white ; peduncles 

 axillary, very short, each with three rather large almost sessile 

 flowers. I. ovate- lanceolate or elliptical and obtuse to lanceolate- 

 acute. A bush or small tree, sometimes attaining a height of 

 30ft. Perhaps the hardiest of all the species. 



E. macrooarpa (large-fruited), fl. very large, solitary, on very 

 short, thick, axillary peduncles. June. I, opposite, sessile, broadly 

 cordate-ovate, acute or obtuse, often 6in. long, or even more, very 

 thick and rigid, h. 6ft. to 10ft 1842. A stout shrub, usually 

 more or less mealy-white. In the " North " Gallery at Kew, 

 there is a portrait of one of the few remaining specimens of this 

 one of the rarest of the Eucalypti. Although it has the largest 

 flowers of all the species of the genus, it is only a shrub, and has 

 been nearly extirpated by sheen in the one district where it was 

 known to grow. (B. M. 4333; P. M. B. XT. 29.) 



E. obliqua (oblique). Stringy -bark, fl., peduncles axillary or 

 lateral, and, as well as the branches, nearly terete; umbels 

 four to eight-flowered. I. alternate, ovate-lanceolate, 4in. to 6in. 

 long, acuminated, very unequal at the base. A. 150ft to 250ft 

 The bark of this comes off in large slabs, and is used in making 

 wigwams and roofs ; and the natives also use it when they wish 

 to cross a river. They strip off a large concave piece, and stop 

 up the ends with mud, so as to keep the water out, thus forming 

 a rude canoe, in which they paddle themselves over with a piece 

 of wood, leaving it to rot or float away. SYN. E. yiganUa. 

 (H. F. T. i., 28.) 



E. paniculate (panicled). fl., peduncles angular; lower ones 

 axillary ; the rest disposed in a terminal panicle ; petioles 5in. 

 long. L lanceolate, Sin. long, and flve to six fines broad, 



