26. Eucalyptus Blaxlandi. 



(J.H.M. & R.H.C., Roy. Soc., X.S.W., 1918, p. 495; Dcsc., in Proc. Linn. Soc., 

 N.S.W., 1905, p. 193, under /:. capitellata.) 



Systematic. A tree of medium size, bark not typically stringy, but inclined 

 to that of " Peppermint." Abnormal leaves ovate-lanceolate, margins undulate 

 and with a reddish rim when fresh; young branchlets and foliage roi.gh, owing 

 to presence of stellate hairs. Normal leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 

 unequal at the base, thick, coriaceous, acuminate; venation indistinct, intra- 

 marginal vein not far removed from the edge, lateral veins inclined at about 

 30 to the mid-rib. Flowers in heads of about ten, borne on thick, angular 

 peduncles, varying up to i inch in length. Buds clavate ; calyx tube pyriform, 

 2 to 3 lines long; operculum compressed, hemispherical, obtuse. 



Fruit. Sessile, compressed, hemispherical; rim 

 broad, domed ; valves exserted ; about 4 

 lines long and 6 lines in diameter. 



The fruits cannot be separated in herbarium material 

 from those of E. capitellata. 



Habitat. Blue Mountains, Blackhcath, Mount York, Wombeyan 

 Caves, New England, New South Wales ; Gipps- 

 land, Victoria. 



REMARKS.- -It requires a field knowledge of the barks and a chemical test of the oils to differentiate 

 the species from E. capitellata, ss the two are very closely related. 



ESSENTIAL QIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 collected at Blackheath, N.S.W., in April, 1914. The yield of oil was 0-83 per 

 cent. The crude oil was of a dark-amber colour, and had a pronounced 

 turpentine-like odour. Pinene was present in considerable quantity, but phel- 

 landrene was absent. Cineol was present, but esters were in small amount, and 

 eudesmol not detected. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-8881 ; rotation a D + 11-0; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4653, and was soluble in 6 volumes 80 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4-8. After 

 acetylation the value was 63-4, and in the cold with two hours' contact, 48-8. 

 The esterised oil was particularly aromatic. 



On rectification, i per cent, distilled below 158 C. (coir.). Between 

 158-172, 77 per cent, distilled; and between 172-188, 14 per cent, came over. 

 The thermometer then rose quickly to 257, between which temperature and 

 267, 3 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. := 0-8794; rotation D -f- 11-2; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4642. 

 Second ,, ,, ,, - 0-9025; rotation a u -f 8-5; refractive index 



at 20 1-4644. 



Third ,, ,, ,, = 0-9364; rotation not taken; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4949. 



