260 



140. Eucalyptus capitellata. 



(Sm„ in Hot. Nov. Hull., 42, and in Trans. Linn. Soc, iii, 285.) 

 Brown Stringybark. 



Systematic. — A large tree, bark fibrous, stringy, brownish. Abnormal 

 leaves lanceolate, straight, pale-coloured; venation fine, oblique, parallel, distant, 

 intramarginal vein removed from the edge, which is sometimes crenulate. Normal 

 leaves shining, 3 to 6 inches long, oblique, lanceolate, falcate; venatior faintly 

 marked, transverse veins oblique, parallel, distant, intramarginal vein removed 

 from the edge. Peduncles axillary, with six to twelve sessile flowers. Calyx 

 tube thick, with almost parallel sides, about 4 lines long, and 2 lines in diameter ; 

 operculum hemispherical, obtuse. 



Fruit.— Sessile, compressed, globose; rim domed; 

 valves slightly exserted; under 6 lines in 

 diameter. 



These compressed fruits at once determine the species 

 both in herbarium and field. E. eugenioides, only in 

 very exceptional cases, has sessile fruits which might 

 be mistake?! for those of this species. 



Habitat. — Coast district and Dividing Range, New South Wales; 

 South Australia; Victoria. 



REMARKS. — The name "Brown. Stringybark" is used comparatively in connection with the timber of 

 E. macrorhyncha, F.v.M.. E eugenioides, Sieb.. and E. Icevopinea, R.T.B. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. — Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Canterbury, N.S.W., in August, 1897. The yield of oil was o-n 

 per cent. The crude oil was red in colour, and had a somewhat rank odour. 

 Cineol was present, and phellandrene also detected, but that terpene was only 

 present in small amount. Pinene was present in the dextro-rotatory form. 

 The higher-boiling portion consisted largely of the sesquiterpene, but crystallised 

 eudesmol was not detected. Esters were not pronounced. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-9175 ; rotation a D + 4-4° ; 

 refractive index at 20 + = 1-4771, and was soluble in 1 volume 80 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4-3. 



On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 172 C. (corr.). Between 

 172-175 , 22 per cent, distilled ; between 175-193 , 44 per cent, distilled ; between 

 193-269 , 7 per cent, came over, and between 269-277 , 17 per cent, distilled. 

 These fractions gave the following .results :— 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. = 0-8952 ; rotation a D + 6-52°. 

 Second ,, ,, ,, = 0-9014; ,, + 3-20°. 



Third ,, ,, ,, =0-9142; ,, not taken. 



Fourth ,, ,, ,, =0-9482; ,, not taken. 



The cineol was determined by the phosphoric acid method in the portion 

 distilling below 193° C. The result was 38 per cent., indicating about 25 per cent, 

 in the crude oil (O.M.). 



