104 



51. Eucalyptus longifolia. 



(Link & Otto, [c. PI. Sol., 07, t. 45.) 

 (Syn. E. Woollsii, F.v.M.) 

 Woollybutt. 



Systematic. —Often a tall tree, with a persistent grey, fibrous bark. Leaves 

 lanceolate, often measuring 12 inches in length (some Eucalypts have longer 

 leaves than this species), not shining; venation well marked, intramarginal vein 

 rather close to the edge. Peduncles axillary, i\ inch long, mostly bearing three 

 comparatively large flowers. Calyx 5 to 6 lines long, turbinate, often angular. 



Fruit.— Large, occasionally angular ; valves scarcely 

 exserted, very distinct and erect, edge 

 sharp; rim broad, sloping outwards, or 

 bevelled ; f inch in diameter. These large 

 fruits, which occur in threes, make the 

 species easy of determination both in the 

 field and herbarium. 



One of the most distinctive capsules of the genus and 

 readily identified. 



Habitat.- -Port Jackson, New South Wales, to Victoria. 



REMARKS.- -" \\ oollybutt " appears to be the general vernacular name for this 

 tree, though in the south-east corner of the Continent it is sometimes known as " Pepper- 

 mint." but it is difficult to understand why it is so called, as the oil contains no pepper- 

 mint constituent. It is a beautiful foliaceous tree, individual leaves sometimes measuring 

 over a foot long, but the leaves of several other species far exceed this measurement, so 

 that the species name is not happily chosen. The bark is similar to that of some " Box " 

 trees, the upper branches being smooth. The timber is reddish in colour, hard, and very 

 durable. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. — Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Canterbury, N.S.W., in August, 1897. The yield of oil was 0-54 

 per cent. The crude oil was of a light orange-brown colour, and had an odour 

 resembling those of the cineol-pinene Eucalyptus oils generally. It was rich in 

 cineol, contained a little pinene, but phellandrene was absent. The third fraction 

 consisted largely of the sesquiterpene, and as this fraction was rather large, the 

 specific gravity of the crude oil was somewhat high. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15° C. = 0-9226; rotation a D 4- 2-86° ; 



refractive index at 20 = 1-4681, and was soluble in ij 



volumes 70 



per cent. 



alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 3-6 



On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 172 C. (corrA Between 

 172-183 , 69 per cent, distilled; between 183-250 , 14 per cent, came over, and 

 between 250-273 , 10 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following 

 results : — 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15° C. = 0-9158; rotation a c 4- 3-9°. 



Second ,, ,, ,, = 0-9240; ,, not taken. 



Third ,, ,, ,, = 0-9460; ,, not taken. 



The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the first fraction, 

 was 63 per cent. (O.M.), indicating about 45 per cent, in the crude oil. 



