223 



117. Eucalyptus affinis. 



ill I' & J.H.M., Proc. Linn Soc N.S.W., 1900, p. 104, t. \ 



Systematic. A tree of moderate size, attaining a heighl oi 80 feet and .l 

 diameter of 2. feel 6 inches. The hark in appearance looks lull " [ronbark " and 

 half " Box," and has strong affinities to both. Abnormal leaves alternate, ovate, 

 obtuse, slightlv emarginate, and mucronate, about 3 inches Long by t| inch 

 broad; intramarginal vein at a considerable distance from the edge. Normal 

 leaves lanceolate, slightly falcate, pale-coloured, dull on both sides, rather coria- 

 1 eous, usually 1 to 3 inches long ; lateral veins at an angle oi 30° with the mid-rib, 

 but inconspicuous except the mid-rib and thickened margins, intramarginal vein 

 indistinct and at some distance from the edge. Peduncles axillary, flattened 

 at first, but nearly terete when the fruit is ripe, with three to seven flowers. Calyx 

 tube attenuate, tapering into a short pedicel ; the operculum attenuate. 



Fruit.— Ovate-truncate, tapering at the base, some- 

 what contracted at the orifice; rim 

 narrow, truncate, slightly convex and 

 dark-coloured ; valves depressed ; about 3 

 lines in diameter. 



Some of the fruits are uncommonly like those of E. albens, 

 as also arc the buds. 



Habitat. — Wellington and Dubbo, towards Molong and Parkes, 

 Grenfell, and in other parts of the western districts 

 of New South Wales. 



REMARKS.- The true affinitii "l the species are in the opinion oi Deane and Maiden [I 1 it.) with li. 

 sideroxylon, A ( linn , and I kemiph, ■ F.v.M. Mr. Cambage is oi opinion thai the tree is .1 hybrid between / . 

 hemiphloia, or E. albens, and / sidei <xylon. Botanically it is close to E. albens, the thick, deeplj furrowed lurk 

 being the onl) feature of differentiation. The timbej of / affinis varies, sometimes it is nearly as red .< \ 

 oxylvti. sometimes much paler, approaching that of E. mi lliodora, and sometimes it is pale with red treal 01 pah 

 intermixed. In general aspect E. affinis is more like E. albens, and would never be mistaken foi I 01 lor 



E. hemiphloia. The result of our investigations shows it to have little connection with the group of " Boxes " to 

 which /;'. nlbfiis or E. hemiphloia belong. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Grenfell, N.S.W., in April, 1001. The yield oi oil was 0-26 per 

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

 resembling those belonging to the cineol-pinene class. Volatile aldehydes were 

 m it pronounced. Cineol was detected, but not in large amount. Pinene was 

 present, but phellandrene was absent. The principal constituent in this oil was 

 the sesquiterpene, and this, of course, caused the crude oil to have a high viscosity, 

 a high specific gravitv, and to boil at a high temperature. It is probable thai 

 aromadendral was present also, judging from the laevo-rotation oi the second 

 fraction and the odour. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. 0-9259; rotation a„ + 5-6°; 

 refractive index at 20 C. = 1-4864, and was soluble in 1 volume 80 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and live acid was 4-7. 



