177 



92. Eucalyptus elceophora. 



(F.v.M., Frag., i\ . [863 64, p. 52.) 

 Bundy or Falf Box. 



Systematic. A rather Low stunted tree with a somewhal fibrous bark, 

 resembling that of E. Bridgesiana. Abnormal Leaves vary much in size and shape, 

 I., ing sometimes orbicular, or even broader than long, and sessile, <> inches broad 

 ami 4 inches Long, or when petiolate they arc ovate, cordate, coriaceous, acuminate, 

 or obtuse, not shining, mealy, coriaceous; in the sessile Leaves the venation is 

 very strongly marked, the circumferential vein sometimes '. inch from the 

 edge. The venation in the petiolate form of the young leaves is only faintly marked, 

 the intramarginal vein being removed from the edge; a dull green on both sides, 

 mealy or glaucous, 3 to 4 inches long. This latter form oi Leaf is mostly found on 

 the square abnormal branchlets. The normal leaves are lanceolate in shape, 

 acuminate, no1 shining, lateral veins fine, numerous; the intramarginal vein 

 close to or not far removed from the edge. Peduncles axillary, 3 lines long, 

 thick, Ba1 tened, bearing five to seven flowers. Calyx cylindrical or angular, under 2 

 lines long; operculum short, obtuse. 



Fruit. Sessile, almost hemispherical, slightly 

 ribbed at the base ; rim narrow, with 

 a groove below it; valves sunk or 

 just exserted; 4 lines long and 3 to 4 

 lines in diameter. 



In shape these fruits are almost a facsimile of 

 E. Gunnii, E. pulvemVnta, E. cincrea, or 

 E. unialata. 



Habitat. — Victoria, and throughout the central districts 

 of New South Wales. 



REMARKS. — This tree as E. elceiphora, 1 v \\ . was di i ribi 1 by Baron von Mueller in his Fragminta 



Phytographia Australia, Vol. IV, p. 52 (1863—4), under the impression that it was distinct from his original E. 



<', r, described some years previously (1859). Bentham. however, in 1 Vol. Ill, p. 230, 



place / elmophora with E. goniocalvx, and Baron von Mueller in his Eucalyptograph; 1 concurs in this synonym. 



Bentham's results were founded on herbarium specimens, and .is recent experience has shown th.it 1 ucat) h i annot 



letermined on such material alone, one can readily understand / laophora being regarded as a varietj oi / 

 tcaJyx. Mueller's original descriptions (he. cit.) oi the two spei ies in our opinion, show clearl] that two distinct 

 trees are referred to, and it is therefore rather difficult to understand u h\ he aci epted Bentham's diagnosis, as he 

 probablv found a diffii ulty in reconciling it with his previous work, for in combining the two under his d< ;cription 

 oi E goniocalyx in his Eucalyptographia, lie states, inter al t, < regards the nature of the bark, it fluctuates between 

 Mi groups hemiphloia and leiophloia, in the latter case the tree passes among the woodmen as ' Blue ' and ' White 

 Gum,' in the other case, as Grey' or 'Bastard Box.' .... the al |uoted synonym (E. eltsopl 



tains to the variety with more persistent barl ' The "Grey" 01 "Bastard Box," is, therefore, his / 

 flaophora, and as its timber is almost worthless, the two trees from this one point alone cannot be placed under 

 the same specie particularly from an economic point of view. The bark distinguish^ I al ot om ./it, 



.ell as the ! a 1 fruit lea ■ and oil Bentham wa pro I 1 1 to unite tl 1 > the similarity 



of calyx, anthers, and fruits (partly) j but Mueller's concurrence in the iupp c ot hi pecie wa probabl) 



owing to his want of knowledge of the trees in their native habitat foi bad he so seen the trei one could 



hardly think that he would have approved of Benth; an ement. This tret restored to specific rank 



(Proc. I.inn So. NSW, [e)oo), by Messrs Deane and Maiden, under the nami ol 1 but has M n. . 



been suppressed, and given n-. original rank ot / ' ; ra bj Maiden Cut. Rev., Vol. II, p. 27^. It 



itb / / 1 1 B., having a light coloured, open-grained timber, with a "Box" bark 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Bungendore, N.S.W., in March, 1899. The yield of oil was 0*84 

 per cent. The crude oil was reddish brown in colour, and had an odour resembling 

 those of the cineol pinene oils generally-. It was very rich in cineol. Pinene 



