5'J 



Blackbutt Series. 



1. Eucalyptus pilularis (The True Blackbutt).. 



2. Eucalyptus Muelleri-ana (Yellow Stringybark). 

 :!. Eucalyptus acmenioides (White Mahogany). 

 -I. EiicdhifttiiK goniocalyx (Mountain Gum). 



5. Eucalyptus Sieberiana (Yowut or Mountain Ash). 

 >. Eucalyptus olliqua (Broad-leaved Messmate). 



Eucalyptus pilularis t Sm. 



TlIK BL.U KBUTT. 



Botanical Xame. pilularis, from the Latin pilula, a little ball or round 

 knob, in allusion to the shape of the fruit. 



Vernacular Names. It is the tree which most usually goes under the name 

 of " Blackbutt," and sometimes by way of distinction, for it attains enormous 

 size, as will be seen presently, the " Great Blackbutt." It is a stately, shapely 

 tree, and perhaps the best known of all the genus to Sydney residents, as 

 it is so abundant. It belongs to the group of eucalypts called " half -barked," 

 because its rough outer bark is confined to the trunk of the tree, the branches 

 being- .smooth and white. From the latter circumstance it shares with some 

 other species the designation of " White- top." The outer bark of this tree is 

 fibrous and closely matted, forming, if I may make the comparison, a sort of 

 middle link bel \veeen such fibrous-barked trees as the Stringybarks and such 

 smooth ones a.-; our White Gum. I do not know that the term " black," as 

 applied to the butt, is particularly appropriate; the word "grey" would be 

 better, though exception could be taken to this adjective also. 



Leaves. Note the pale underside of the leaf. 



Bark. Has fibrous bark on the butt, while the branches are smooth, like 

 those of a gum. 



Timber. Pale-coloured, more or less fissile, though sometimes quite 

 interlocked in grain. It is a strong, durable, thoroughly safe, and well-tried 

 timber. It is usually readily diagnosed by the presence of narrow, con- 

 centric gum-veins, but sometimes these gum-veins are nearly or wholly 

 absent. As a rule they are too narrow to cause deterioration. Sometimes, 

 particularly on the Northern Rivers, it is free from gum-veins, and then 

 presents considerable similarity to Tallow-wood (E. micro corys), for which 

 it is occasionally substituted. It occasionally, though rarely, shows pin- 

 holes. 



It is one of the best hardwoods we have for house and ship building. 

 It is useful for bridge-planking, though inferior to Tallow-wood for that 

 purpose. It has been tested for many years for blocks for wood-paving, 

 with most satisfactory results; in fact, it is one of the best timbers we 

 have for the purpose, both as regards wear and durability. It takes tar well. 



