280 



152. Eucalyptus phellandra, s P . nov. 



Narrow Leaf Peppermint. 



Systematic. A medium-sized tree, with a typical "Peppermint" bark. 

 Abnormal leaves lanceolate, cordate, s< ssile, usually under 5 inches long and § inch 

 broad, upper surface darker in colour, branchlets scabrous, particularly so when 

 young. Normal leaves thin, lanceolate, or narrow lanceolate, sometimes falcate, 

 up to 7 inches in length and 1 inch broad, on slender pedicels ; venation distinct, 

 intramarginal vein looped and well removed from the edge, a secondary less 

 prominent vein often occurring nearer the margin, lateral veins very oblique, 

 occasionally almost parallel to the mid-rib, distant and spreading. Peduncles 

 usually axillary, 2 to 3 lines long, bearing umbels of ten or more flowers. Buds 

 clavate; calyx tube tapering into a slender pedicel; operculum hemispherical, 

 umbonate. 



Fruit.— P3'riform, sometimes hemispherical, more or 

 less shining, on a pedicel 1 line in length ; 

 rim reddish, truncate, somewhat counter- 

 sunk or even slightly convex ; valves not 

 or only slightly exserted ; 3 lines long and 

 under 3 lines in diameter. 



E. amygdalina of Tasmania is more likely than any 

 other to be confounded with these fruits, and E. Aus- 

 traliana is its next in resemblance. 



r<> 



Habitat. — Barber's Creek, Batlow, Braidwood, Bundanoon, 

 Bungendore, Burrawang, Crookwell, Hill Top, Laurel 

 Hill, Lochiel, Marulan, Mittagong, Monga, Moss 

 Vale, Tumberumba, Tumut, New South Wales; 

 Warburton, Victoria. 



REMARKS. — This species is one of the Eucalypts that has been included in the past under E. amygdalina, 

 and its separation is the result of this research. Morphologically, it is difficult to distinguish from the 

 type E. amygdalina and E. Australiana, both being long regarded as one species. The abnormal leaves are also 

 similar to those of E. viminalis, and the same might be said of the normal leaves of the species above enumerated. 

 The fruits more nearly resemble in shape those of E. A ustraliana than any other, and show a slight difference I iet\veen 

 those of that species and E. amygdalina. In the field it is classed as a " Peppermint " from the odour of the leaves and 

 the nature of the bark. It is one of the few species of this research that has been founded almost entirely on the 

 chemical constituents of the oil. The localities (supra) will help in some degree to systematically identify the tree. 

 The economic importance of separating this species from E. Australiana can be judged from the fact that at the 

 present time the value of the oil of the latter species is more than double that of E. phellandra. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. — During the last twenty-five years, there have been 

 distilled in Eastern Australia thousands of tons of oil from this Eucalyptus species. 

 In New South Wales and Victoria, it occurs on the mountain ranges, growing 

 in the former State at an altitude of about 1,500 to 3,000 feet. It has a most 

 extensive range, particularly in southern New South Wales, and is especially 

 abundant in the Braidwood district of this State. 



The oil derived from this Eucalypt does not reach the standard laid down 

 in the British Pharmacopoeia, being deficient in cineol and containing too much 

 phellandrene. It now finds its chief use in the mining industry for the separation 

 of metallic sulphides by a flotation process. It is employed for this purpose 

 equally with that of E. dives, and as the yield of oil is large it is a profitable 

 species to work. It is also used for other manufacturing processes, mainly on 

 account of its cheapness. 



