226 



119. Eucalyptus Woollsiana. 



(R.T.B., Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1900, p. 684, t. XLIII.) 

 Mallee Box. 



Systematic. A large tree, up to 80 feet high, and more than 3 feet in 

 diameter. Bark persistent half-way or more up the trunk, smooth, chiefly of 

 a rich brown colour. Abnormal leaves lanceolate, alternate, 2 to 3 inches long, 

 6 to 9 lines broad. Normal leaves under 6 inches long, on a petiole less than 6 lines 

 long, narrow-lanceolate, tapering to a fine recurved point, mostly of a thin texture, 

 of a light-yellowish green, generally shining ; venation slightly obscured, impressed 

 on the upper surface, lateral veins few, intramarginal vein removed from the 

 edge. Peduncles axillary, from 2 to 12 lines long. Flowers few. Calyx tube about 

 i line in diameter, tapering into a short stalk ; operculum hemispherical, acuminate, 

 and often more obtuse than shown in the plate. 



Fruit. Mostly pear-shaped, only occasionally hemi- 

 spherical ; rim thin, slightly contracted ; 

 valves not exserted ; about 3 lines in 

 diameter. 



The fruits greatly resemble those of E. polybractea, 

 but differ in shape from most of those of other " Boxes " 

 such as E. hemiphloia and E. odorata. 



Habitat. Girilambone, Cobar, Trangie, Nyngan, Murga, New 

 South Wales; also interior of Victoria. 



REMARKS. The tree is a half-barked " Box," and allied in baric, timber and oil to other cognate " Box " 

 trees. The leaves have not a shining surface as obtains in E. popnlifo/ia, F.v.M., and E. Behriana, F.v.M. It 

 differs from E. microtheca in the valves of the fruits not being exserted, in the colour of the wood, and in the bark, 

 and chemical constituents. From E. hemiphloia it differs in the nature of its timber, buds and leaves; from E. 

 bicolor, A. Cunn., in the venation and shape of the leaves, the shape of the fruits and constituents of the oil, and 

 particularly in its timber. It also has a more erect habit than E. bicolor, E. populilolia has much wider leaves and 

 a different venation, but the barks of the species are similar. It is usually associated with E. populilolia, with the 

 green " Mallee " E. viridis, R.T.B., and with the " Grey Mallee " E. Morrisii, K.T.B., on which account it is called 

 ' Mallee Box." It is never seen as a " Mallee," and as a result of inquiries it appears that it does not grow in that 

 form. The fruits at once differentiate it irom E. albens, Miq., E. odorata, and several other species with which 

 it has been synony.nised in recent years. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets were obtained for 

 distillation from several localities in the neighbourhood of Girilambone, N.S.W. 

 The oil obtained from leaves from this locality in January, 1900, gave 

 the following results. Yield of oil was 0-5 per cent. The colour of the 

 crude oil was orange-brown, and in odour and constituents resembled that from 

 the typical " Boxes." Pinene was detected, but phellandrene was absent, and 

 this is usually the case with the oils of all the species included in the group of 

 " Boxes." Aromadendral was present in some quantity, and it was to this con- 

 stituent that the laevo-rotation was' chiefly due. Cineol was present, but only 

 about 10 or 12 per cent, in the crude oil. Cymene was detected, this hydro- 

 carbon being evidently a constant constituent in the oils of this group, 



