167 



89. Eucalyptus Nepeanensis. 



(Sp. nov.) 

 Box. 



Systematic. A medium-sized tree, with 'Box" bark on the lower 

 portions of the stem. Leaves lanceolate, but very variable in size, from broad 

 lanceolate (2 inches broad and over 6 inches in length) to narrow lanceo- 

 late (2 lines broad and over 6 inches long), ovate, acuminate, under 4 

 inches long, dull or slightly shining, uniform green on both sides; venation 

 distinct, lateral veins oblique, intramarginal vein removed from the edge, and 

 especially so in the case of the broad lanceolate and ovate forms of the leaves. 

 Peduncles axillary, 4 to 5 lines long, with six or more flowers in the umbel. Buds 

 about 6 lines long, angular in the early stages. Calyx i| lines in diameter at 

 the time of flowering, hemispherical ; operculum hemispherical, acuminate, i^ 

 lines long. 



Fruit. Hemispherical to pyriform ; rim flat or slightly 

 countersunk ; valves not exserted ; under 3 

 lines in diameter. 



The fruits are not much unlike those of E. melliodora 

 or E. Bosistoana, with which species it has the most 

 affinity. 



Habitat. Cabramatta, St. Marys, New South Wales. 



REMARKS. Since the publication of the "Flora Australiensis," it has been usual to place this species 

 and If. pi- ml ula (both of Cunningham) under Mueller's E. largiflorens. With such a classification we do not 

 afjrtv, as Cunningham's specific names apply to interior species, whilst this is a coastal tree, with a pale-coloured 

 whitish timber, " Box" barked only on the lower portion of the stem, and with erect branches and branchlets. In 

 our first edition it was placed and fully described under E. bicolor. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from St Marys, N.S.W., in November, 1900. The yield of oil was 0-52 

 per cent. The crude oil was amber-coloured, and had an odour resembling those 

 of the cineol-pinene class of Eucalyptus oils. It was rich in cineol; pinene 

 was present, but phellandrene was absent. The oil also contained rather a 

 large amount of the sesquiterpene, so that the specific gravity was somewhat 

 high. Crystallised eudesmol was not detected. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. == 0-9259; rotation a D + 1-1; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4677, and was soluble in i^ volumes 70 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 3-6. 



On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 171 C. (corr.). Between 

 171-183, 71 per cent, distilled; between 183-245, 14 per cent, came over, and 

 between 245-269, 9 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following 



results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 = 0-9197 ; rotation a D + 2-10. 



Second ,, ,, = 0-9243; not taken. 



Third ,, ,, = 0-9457; 



The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the first fraction, 

 was 70 per cent. (O.M.), indicating about 56 per cent, in the original oil. 



