37 



8. Eucalyptus eximia. 



(Schau., in \Valp., Rep., ii, 925.) 

 White or Yellow Bloodwood. 



Systematic.- A good average forest tree, with a yellowish or lightish- 

 coloured, flaky bark. Abnormal leaves large, measuring sometimes up to 

 12 inches long and 2 inches broad, lanceolate, falcate, on a petiole of about 12 

 inches long. Normal leaves smaller and more falcate; venation less distinct 

 than in the younger leaves, lateral veins fine, parallel ; intramarginal vein close 

 to the edge. Oil glands comparatively numerous. Peduncles chiefly terminal, 

 forming a panicle, broad, flat, over i inch long, bearing from six to ten sessile or 

 shortly pedicellate flowers. Calyx under 6 lines long and 3 lines broad, shining ; 

 operculum hemispherical, rostrate. 



Fruit. Urn-shaped, wrinkled, sessile, contracted 

 at the rim, which is countersunk and 

 sharp-edged ; valves depressed ; about 7 

 lines long, 6 lines wide. 



The fruit could easily be mistaken for E. intermedia, 

 so that other material is necessary when determining the 

 species. 



Habitat. Blue Mountains and Gosford, N.S.W. 



REMARKS. The field characters of this species, such as the sessile flowers, colour and nature of the bark, 

 timber, and chemical characters, readily differentiate it from the " Sydney Bloodwood " (E. corymbosa). It is some- 

 times known as " White Bloodwood," from the colour of its bark, and pale reddish-coloured timber It is not widely 

 distributed. In shape of fruit- and colour of the timber it resembles E. intermedia (R.T.B.). 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Springwood, N.S.W. , in August, 1899. The yield of oil was 

 0-46 per cent. 



The crude oil was of a light orange-brown colour, had a turpentine-like 

 odour, and consisted largely of pinene, together with the sesquiterpene alcohol 

 and also geraniol. Cineol was not detected, nor was phellandrene present. The 

 first fraction consisted almost entirely of pinene, while the third fraction was 

 of a greasy appearance, and had a high viscosity. A portion of this fraction 

 apparently consisted of the liquid form of eudesmol as indicated by the high 

 saponification number after acetylation. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-8998 ; rotation <I D + 

 28-8; refractive index at 20 = 1-4832, and was insoluble in 10 volumes 

 80 per cent, alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid 

 was 4-5. 



On rectification a few drops of acid water and a small amount of 

 volatile aldehydes came over below 156 C. (corr.). Between 156-162, 37 per 

 cent, distilled; between 162-266, 24 per cent, came over, although only i per 

 cent, distilled between 190 and 266; between 266-280, 31 per cent, distilled. 

 These fractions gave the following : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. = 0-865 ; rotation U D + 36-85. 

 Second = 0-8737; + 30-5. 



Third ,, ,, =0-951; ,, + 8-7. 



For comparative figures with the oils of the three " Bloodwoods " see 

 table under E. corymbosa. 



