247 



131. Eucalyptus hcemastoma. 



(Sm . in I MM-. Linn. Soi , iii, 

 White or Scribbly Gum. 



Systematic. A medium-sized tree, having a while, smooth bark, almost 

 invariably showing insect markings, similar to a " Scribble," hence the verna- 

 cular name. Branchlets quadrangular. Abnormal leaves variable, eithei 

 ovate-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, with the venation scarcelj discernible, 

 about a inches long, or falcate-lanceolate, measuring 9 inches in some instano 

 ami venation also faint. Normal leaves lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, variable 

 in size, oi a pale-green colour, shining, coriaceous; venation indistinct, lateral 

 veins oblique, spreading, intramarginal vein removed from the edge. Flowers 

 on flattened axillary peduncles about 1 inch long, six or more in the umbel ; buds 

 clavate; calyx tube about 2 lines in diameter, tapering into a pedicel of about 

 j to 3 lines long. 



Fruit.— Pedicellate, hemispherical or pear-shaped, 

 shining; rim thick, convex, red-coloured; 

 valves sunk ; up to 5 lines in diameter. 



These fruits present no difficulty in determination, the 

 red rim and shining sides readily identify then' . They 

 eerx closely resemble E. vitiva. The fruits, however, 

 vary in size and when snnill tire known us -ear. 

 mici. mtli. 1. Syn. K. micrantha, DC. 



Habitat. Sydney, Gosford, Richmond River, Cooma, Blue 

 Mountains, N< \\ South Wales; Tasmania; Victoria; 



OiU'enskind. 



REMARKS. I'll.- Eucalyptus here designated is the one with the whitish bark, having "Scribbles" 

 ■ 1 I markings) upon it. The timber i- of a pinkish colour, and oi little commercial value. It has comparativeh 1 



fruits and . .ma. run, leaves. The individual specii ynonynii i d m thi past undei B. hmmastoma will 

 no doubt, all be shown on a natural classification to be quite distinct, and the " Spotted (aim " ha- been proved 

 worthy ot specifii rank under the name oi / . maculosa, R.T.B. also the " Stringybark " variety oi Mueller ami 

 Woolls is now / . 11 ilkinsoniana R.T.B. De Candolle's species, E. micrantha, had been placed bj Muellei 

 variety ot this Eucalyptus, with which we concur. The coarse, thick leaves, and larger (nut- and flowers 

 distinguish Smith's E. hamastoma from /'. Rossit I '■ von Mueller's figure oi /. htzmastoma, in his 



ilyptographia faithfully depicts the species, which derives its pecifii appellation n the red rim of its 



fruits — a charactei h ■ :•■ \ i i thai occurs in several other species o I i pts. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Barber's (reck. N.S.W., in June, 1S98. The yield of nil was 0*28 

 per cent. Tli" crude oil was of a red colour, had a. terpene odour, and was some- 

 what viscous. A large amount of phellandrene was present in the first fraction, 

 which also contained about 10 10 15 per cent, of cineol. The third fraction con- 

 sisted largely of the liquid form of eudesmol and the sesquiterpene, more than 

 half the oil distilling above -'.45 <'. It was 10 the presence oi these constituents 

 thai the somewhat viscous nature oi die oil was due. The peppermint con- 

 stituent, piperitone, was not detected, nor did aromadendral appear to be present. 



The crude oil had spe< ific gravit} at 15° C. = 0-9195; refra< tive index at 

 20 = 1*4955, and was insoluble in in volumes No pei cent, alcohol. The saponi- 

 fication number for the esters and lice acid was 5-1; alter acetylation it was 

 55"6, corresponding to 20-8 pei cent, it calculated lor a sesquiterpene alcohol. 



