15 



Geographical Distribution. 



The scheme <>l evolution oi the Eucalypts formulated in the following article is 

 further supported by following oul the geographical distribution oi the species. 



Thus on the assumption thai those Eucalypts known as the " Bloodwoods " 

 and their affinities are the oldesl group oi these trees, and that Western Australia 

 is the oldest portion of the continent, one would naturallj expecl to find them 

 well represented in that part of the continent, and such is the case. The 

 'Bloodwoods," and red-timbered Eucalypts especially, are the distinguishing 

 ures of the foresi trees belonging to the Genus in Western and North-western 

 Australia, and trees with these < haracters extend through the Northern ["erritor} 

 down Eastern Queensland, and Eastern New South Wales, discontinuing in 

 the north-east corner of Victoria, there being no representative ol this group in 

 1 .1-111 ini.'. where only pale coloured Limbers occur. 



The closely allied Genus .1 ngophora accompanies the red-timbered Eucalypts 

 in Queensland, down through New South Wales, finishing with one species, 

 Angophora intermedia, on the Grampians, in Victoria. No Angophora species 

 been recorded from Tasmania, and no red wood Eucalyptus, either, for the 

 matter of that — a pale timber feature that extend- well into Victoria. Pale- 

 coloured timbers also extend north, tar into New South Wales. In this latter 

 State we find in addition to the red wood-, the groups of "Peppermints," 

 " Stringybarks," and " hums," gradually increase in number and importance 

 a- one travels south to Victoria, until in Tasmania they are the only represen- 

 tatives oi the genus — the red woods and " Bloodwoods " being quite absent. 



Branching off at different intervals from the main line ol species are the 

 "Ironbarks," "Gums," "Boxes," " Mallees," "Stringybarks," and "Pepper- 

 mints." The "Ironbarks" are an interesting group, and evidently are closely 

 connected with the members which yield oil- riches! in cineol. 



Not only do we thus find an evolutionary agreemeni with the geology 

 and botany, but this is further confirmed by the chemistry, for according to die 

 above reasoning the more recenl of the species shown at the end of our table. 

 are found to yield phellandrene bearing oil-, while with the mosl ancient sp< 

 occurring at the beginning of the table die terpene i- pinene. 



Thus applying the table oi evolution to a contour map oi Australia in 

 the ordei ol geologi al age, the head or primary specie (1 le red woods) are found 

 in the western portion of the continent, and then travel! orth an.) south, 



complete the range with the pale-coloured timbers in Tasmania awA Southern 

 Victoria. 



