'55 



137. Eucalyptus fastigata. 



Ill' &J H.M.. Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1895, p. 798.) 

 Blackbutt, Peppermint, Cut Tail. 



Systematic. A tall tree, the bark of which resembles closelj that of 

 E. obliqua, the principal difference between the two trees in this respect consisting 

 in the fact that the tops and branches of " Cut-tail " are smooth, while those of 

 /:'. obliqua are the reverse. Abnormal leaves, own- lanceolate ; the veining ol 

 the underside prominent; the twigs rusty, tuberculate, like E. amygdalina, and 

 some othei species. Normal loaves lanceolate, and, when fully grown, narrow- 

 lanceolate, often more or less ovate lanceolate, and always more oi less attenuat* 

 They are rather chartaceous, smooth, and shining. The chief characteristic 

 of the buds is the shortly acuminate operculum, which is much accentuated in 

 dried specimens. 



Fruit. Pear-shaped on a slender pedicel; rim 

 domed ; valves somewhat exserted, three- 

 celled, as far as seen ; diameter z\ to nearly 

 3 lines. 



This is a very characteristic fruit and when known 

 easily distinguished from the other species. The fruits 

 may be said to somewhat resemble those of E. dives, 

 Schau. ; otherwise the species presents no difficulties in 

 determination. It is in no way allied with E. vitrea, 

 R.T.B. It differs from that of E. obliqua in being 

 more or less conical, while that of E. obliqua is sub- 

 cylindrical. E. regnans has a truncate or countersunk 

 rim. 



Habitat. Clyde district, New South Wales ; Victoria. 



REMARKS, lu, authors oi thi pecii are inclined to regard it as not specifically different from 

 E. regnans. of Mueller (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1899, p. 160). We howevet prefei to consider these two 

 Eucalypts as di tinct foi Mueller's description of the latter species in Reporl ^cclm Soc. Vict., No. 1870 is so very 

 clear and precise that he could hardly have confounded the material oi E. fastigata when describing I . > 

 The tree is tall, with a fibrous hark and has an exceedingly fissile timber which is in much request locally, and is 

 reputed to be very durable in the ground. It does not occur in Tasmania, where E. regnans is to be found, and 

 which has then a mooth bark a well as in Vii toria. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branrhlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Monga, X.SAN'., in September, 1898. The yield of oil was 0-12 per 

 cent. The crude oil was red in colour, and had rather an unpleasant odour. 

 It consisted principally of pinene, phellandrene, cineol, and crystallised eudesmol. 

 That the pinene was dextro-rotatory is indicated by the firsl fraction having a 

 rotation to the right, while the second fraction, which contained most of the 

 phellandrene, was hevo-rotatory. Cineol was present in small amount, about 

 8 or to per cent, in the crude oil. Eudesmol was present in quantity in the third 

 ii.u tinn, the oil crystallising solid in the receiver soon after distillation. 



The crude oil had specific gravit3 at 15° C. = 0-9001 ; refractive index at 

 20 = 1-4816, and was soluble in g volumes 80 per cent, alcohol, The saponifi.- 

 • ation number fgi the esters and Ereg acid was 1 pg 



