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145. Eucalyptus crebra. 



(F.v.M., in Journ. Linn. Soc. ; iii, 87.) 

 Narrow-leaved Ironbark. 



Systematic. This ironbark often grows to a very large tree, and is the 

 most widely-distributed of all the " ironbarks," as it occurs on both sides of, and 

 on the Dividing Range, as well as in the interior. Its specific characters are 

 distinct, and it is not easily confounded with other " Ironbarks." The bark is 

 blackish, hard, and deeply furrowed. Leaves narrow, lanceolate, mostly under 

 6 inches long, and about 3 lines wide, generally of a thin texture, and of equal 

 colour on both sides ; lateral veins not well marked, the intramarginal vein not 

 quite close to the edge. Flowers mostly in panicles, appearing to form a terminal 

 corymb. Calyx tube turbinate, about 1 line in diameter ; operculum conical, 

 equal in length to the calyx tube. 



Fruit.— Very small on slender pedicels, semi-ovate, 

 or sometimes attentuate at the base ; rim 

 narrow ; valves not exserted ; under 2 

 lines in diameter. 



This has one of the smallest sized fruits of the Genus, 

 and much resemble those of E. Beyeri, E. polybractea 

 and E. viridis, 



Habitat. — New South Wales ; Queensland; North Australia. 



REMARKS. — The bark of E. crebra is very characteristic, being very deeply furrowed, dark or black, often 

 from 4 to 6 inches thick, and permeated throughout with kino. The leaves are narrower than those of other species 

 of " Ironbarks." It is generally found in poor soil, and has. perhaps, a wider distribution than any other " Ironbark." 



ESSENTIAL OIL. — Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Rylstone, N.S.W., in June, 1900. The yield of oil was 0-16 per 

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

 ordinary crude cineol-terpene Eucalyptus oils. It contained much phellandrene, 

 and thus differed from the oil of E. paniculata; pinene was present, and also a 

 fair amount of cineol. The second fraction consisted largely of phellandrene 

 and cineol, while the third consisted principally of the sesquiterpene. Esters 

 were not pronounced. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-8986 ; rotation a D -- io-8° ; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1.4787, and was insoluble in 10 volumes 80 per cent. 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 6-2. 



On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 165 C. (com). Between 

 165-183°, 64 per cent, distilled; between 183-255°, 11 per cent, came over, and 

 between 255-280°, 19 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following 

 results : — 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15° C. = 0-8812 ; rotation a D - - 21-7°. 

 Second ,, ,, ,, = 0-8925; ,, - 17-5°. 



Third ,, ,, ,, = 0-9330; ,, not taken. 



The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the first fraction, 

 was 32 per cent., indicating about 22 per cent, in the original oil (O.M.). 



