

159. Eucalyptus oreades. 



(R.T.B., Proc. I inn. Sot , N.S.W., 1899, p. 596, I XI III.) 

 A Mountain Ash. 



Systematic. A tall tree, with a smooth, whitish bark, or sometimes 

 having a slightly rough bark 6 to 8 feel from the ground. Abnormal leaves thin, 

 elliptical oval, shortly acuminate, on a petiole oi about 1 inch or more, venation 

 more distinct than on mature leaves. Nornn.l leaves lon^, often measuring 9 

 inches, thick, shining, dark green on both sides, mi rather loni: petioles, Lanceolate, 

 falcate; venation distinct, intramarginal vein removed from the edge, lateral 

 veins very oblique, often approaching the venation of E. coriacea, A. Cunn. 

 Peduncles axillary, not numerous, generally with about six to eight flowers. 

 Calyx tube hemispherical, on a pedicel of about 2 to 3 lines; operculum hemi- 

 spherical, acuminate, about the size of the calyx. 



Fruit.— Pedicellate, hemispherical, rarely pyriform, 

 occasionally ribbed ; the rim broad or 

 slightly countersunk; valves rarely or 

 scarcely exserted ; about 3 lines in 

 diameter. 



In the mature stage Hiey have the truncate edge of E. 

 resinifera, but the valves are very small compared with 

 that species. 



The /nuts in the early stages tire somewhat similar in 

 shape to those of E. stricta, Sieb., E. obtusiflora, and 

 E. fraxinoides, but, perhaps, slightly smaller. 



Habitat. Lawson, .Mount Victoria, and road to Jenolan Caves, 

 New South Wales. It was a tree of this species 

 that Lawson, Blaxland, and Wentworth marked on 

 their first attempt to cross the Blue Mountains, and 

 which is now fenced in at Katoomba. 



REMARKS. 1 in u.i is allied to 2 S F.v.M., in the venation, shape of the leaves, and timber, 



I iu 1 it differs from it in its sine 10th bark, shape oi fruits, palei timber, S 1 When seen in its native habitat it might 



■ be passed as I saligna, Sin , but differs from thai pa les in the timber, fruit, and 1 heretical constituent oi it s 



nil, anil venation of the leaves. It is altogi thet di tim 1 from / virgata, Sieb , or 2 / uehmanniana. This tree is 



to be found at the head ol ullie on the Blue Mountains, at the fool oi pro ipitous sandstone cliffs, and near 



the foot of watei falls, o the 1 igi of the pools, ft also occurs on the ridges, as at Katoomba. It grows very tall, 



with tely a branch till near the top or head, The tree though! to be this peciet in Tasmania is /.'. R 



I look. {., the mature fruits oi the i wo being iwhal alike 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Lawson, N.S.W., in May, 1899. The yield of oil was 1/2 per cent. 

 The crude oil was almost colourless, and had a peppermint odour, due to the 

 • nee of a small amount of piperitone. It contained much phellandrene, 

 but only a small amounl of pinene. Cineol was present only in traces in the 

 crude oil. Crystallised eudesmol was detected a1 the time of distillation. The 

 third fraction consisted largely of the sesquiterpene. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 ('. — n-NSt,,,; rotation./, 22-7°; 

 refractive index at m i-.jNNN, and was soluble in 1 volume 80 per cent. 



alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 8*2. 



