79 



a slender pedicel about 5 lines in length, as long or longer than the common 

 axillary peduncle. Calyx tube broadly conical, or semi-ovate; operculum almost 

 the same length as calyx tube, sometimes shorter, acuminate. 



Fruit. Truncate or hemispherical, semi-ovate; rim 

 countersunk after the primary one has 

 become detached ; valves not exserted ; 

 about 5 lines long and 4 lines broad. 



Morphologists hare failed to distinguish these from E. 

 sidcroxylon, so that the two trees were often confounded 

 bv systettuUtsts from herbarium material. 'I he hemi- 

 spherical forms come closely to tlvisc of E. pilularis. 



Habitat. Victoria and South Australia. 



REMARKS. Thv systematic position of this spec ics seems now to be firmly established, owing principally 

 to the perspicacity of Dr. \Voolls. !!; describes fully, I'roc. Linn. Sic., N.S.W., vol. xi, 1886, p. 859, the differences 

 between this species and its congener E. sideroxylon with which, on morphological grounds, it had been confounded 

 in the past. The two are quite distinct in most physical character-, except the fruits, which are uncommonly alike. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Material consisting of the leaves and terminal branch- 

 lets was forwarded for distillation from the Kingscote end of Kangaroo Island, 

 in June, 1911. This species grows somewhat plentifully on Kangaroo Island, 

 and is stated to have both red and white flowers. It seems to be generally 

 known throughout the island as " Blue Gum." 



The leaves, after steam distillation, were quite red in colour, resembling 

 in this respect those of the "Red Mallee," and a few other species. The yield 

 of oil was 0-78 per cent. The crude oil was reddish in colour, due to the influence 

 of iron from the still acting on the phenols. The odour was that given by oils 

 belonging to the cineol-pinene class, and volatile aldehydes were pronounced. 

 No indication was given for the aldehyde aromadendral. Phellandrene does 

 not occur in the oil of this species. The terpenes present were pinene and 

 limonene ; probably cymene occurs also. A fairly large fraction was obtained 

 boiling above 260, which consisted principally of the sesquiterpene. The amount 

 of esters was small. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-8987; rotation #,, + 9-2, 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4711 ; and required i volume of 80 per cent, alcohol 

 to form a clear solution. The saponification number for the esters and free acid 

 was 3-8. 



On rectification a "few drops of acid water, together with some aldehydes, 

 came over below 165 C. (corr.). Between 165-172, 34 per cent, distilled; 

 between 172-225, 50 per cent, came over, and between 225-276, 13 per cent, 

 distilled. These fractions gave the following results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. = 0-8815; rotation + 15-9; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4650. 

 Second ,, ,, ,, =0-8921; rotation D -r-5-8; refractive 



index at 20 1-4667. 



Third ,, ,, ,, =0-9365; rotation inactive; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4964. 



The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method in the rectified portion 

 and calculated for the crude oil ; the result from two closely-agreeing determin- 

 ations was 32 per cent. By the rapid phosphoric acid method the amount 

 was 27 per cent, in the crude oil. 



