- 1 I 



110. Eucalyptus propinqua. 



(H.D. cS: J.H.M., in Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1895, p. 541, t. XLIII.) 

 Grey Gum of the North Coast, N.S.W. 



Systematic. — A large, straight growing tree, found up to 4 or 5 feet in 

 diameter, and 120 feet and more in height. The bark is grey, dirty-looking, and 

 peels off in large, longitudinal, irregular patches, leaving a smooth, white surface. 

 The bark closely resembles, and is, perhaps, not to be distinguished from that of 

 E. punctata. Abnormal leaves more broadly lanceolate, and with the marginal 

 vein more distinct from the edge than in the case of normal leaves, at first opposite. 

 Normal leaves narrow-lanceolate and very uniform, average length 4 to 5 inches, 

 breadth § inch ; venation not prominent, lateral veins nearly parallel, intramarginal 

 vein on or very close to the edge of the leaf as a general rule. Peduncles 

 flattened. Flowers pedicellate, usually in tens, but sometimes as few as five. 

 Calyx tube hemispherical and longer than the operculum, which is hemispherical, 

 but with a low pointed apex. 



Fruit.— On angular pedicels about 2 lines long, 

 hemispherical, small, occasionally slightly 

 ribbed, very uniform in size ; rim thick ; 

 valves exserted; about 2| lines broad by 

 1 1 lines deep. 



The fruits, as regards the rim and general contour; 

 considerably resemble those of the smaller forms of 

 E. resinifera, E. maculosa, and perhaps E. dealbata. 



Habitat. — Coast Districts of New South Wales. 



REMARKS. — The affinities of E. propinqua are with E. saligna and E. punctata, contiguous species in 

 Baron von .Mueller's Census. A very distinct species and easily recognised by its small fruits and red timber, which 

 is of excellent quality. The timber is dark coloured, and so closely resembling "Red Ironbark" (E. siderophloia) that 

 care is required to distinguish the two timbers. Very durable in or out of the ground, but its tensile strength inferior 

 to that of the " Ironbark " already referred to. — H.P. & J.H.M. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. — Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 collected at Woodburn, N.S.W. , in August, 1900. The yield of oil was 0-24 per 

 cent. The crude oil was red in colour, and had a turpentine-like odour. It 

 contained no phellandrene, but pinene was present in some quantity ; cineol occurs, 

 but that constituent was not present in sufficient amount for the oil to be of commer- 

 cial value, even if the yield had been higher. Aromadendral was detected in the 

 higher boiling portion, and this constituent was also indicated by the laevo-rota- 

 tion of the second fraction. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-8980; rotation a D + 4-4°; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4731, and was soluble in 8 volumes 70 per cent, alcohol. 

 The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 8-4. 



