247 



131. Eucalyptus hamastoma. 



(Sin., in Trans. Linn. Soc., iii, 285.) 

 White or Scribbly Gum. 



Systematic. A medium-sized tree, having a while, smooth bark, almost 

 invariably showing insect markings, similar to a " Scribble," hence the verna- 

 cular name. Rranchlets quadrangular. Abnormal leaves variable, either 

 ovate-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, with the venation scarcely discernible, 

 about 4 inches long, or falcate-lanceolate, measuring 9 inches in some instances, 

 and venation also faint. Normal leaves lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, variable 

 in size, of a pale-green colour, shining, coriaceous ; venation indistinct, lateral 

 veins oblique, spreading, intramarginal vein removed from the edge. Flowers 

 on flattened axillary peduncles about i inch long, six or more in the umbel ; buds 

 clavate ; calyx tube about. 2 lines in diameter, tapering into a pedicel of about 

 2 to 3 lines long. 



Fruit. Pedicellate, hemispherical or pear-shaped, 

 shining ; rim thick, convex, red-coloured ; 

 valves sunk; up to 5 lines in diameter. 



These fruits present no difficulty in determination, the 

 red rim and shining sides readily identify them. They 

 very closely resemble E. vitrea. The fruits, however, 

 vary in size and when small are known as var. 

 micrantha, Syn. E. micrantha, DC. 



Habitat. Sydney, Gosford, Richmond River, Cooma, Blue 

 Mountains, New South Wales; Tasmania; Victoria; 

 Queensland. 



REMARKS. -The Eucalyptus here designated is the one with the whitish bark, having "Scribbles" 

 (insect markings) upon it. The timber is of a pinkish colour, and of little commercial value. It has comparatively 

 large fruits and coriaceous leaves. The individual species synonymised in the past under E. h&mastoma will, 

 no doubt, all be shown on a natural classification to be quite distinct, and the " Spotted Gum " has been proved 

 worthy of specific rank under the name of E. maculosa, R.T.B., also the " Stringybark " variety of Mueller and 

 Woolls is now E. ll'ilkinsoniana. R.T.B. De Candolle's species, E. micrantha, had been placed by Mueller as a 

 variety of this Eucalyptus, with which we concur. The coarse, thick leaves, and larger fruits and flowers 

 distinguish Smith's E. hismastoma from E. Rossii. Baron von Mueller's figure of E. hamasloma, in his 

 " Eucalyptographia," faithfully depicts the species, which derives its specific appellation from the red rim of its 

 fruits a character, however, that occurs in several other species of Eucalypts. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Barber's Creek, N.S.W., in June, 1898. The yield of oil was 0-28 

 per cent. The crude oil was of a red colour, had a terpene odour, and was some- 

 what viscous. A large amount of phellandrene was present in the first fraction, 

 which also contained about 10 to 15 per cent, of cineol. The third fraction con- 

 sisted largely of the liquid form of eudesmol and the sesquiterpene, more than 

 half the oil distilling above 245 C. It was to the presence of these constituents 

 that the somewhat viscous nature of the oil was due. The peppermint con- 

 stituent, piperitone, was not detected, nor did aromadendral appear to be present. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-9195 ; refractive index at 

 20 = 1-4955, and was insoluble in 10 volumes 80 per cent, alcohol. The saponi- 

 fication number for the esters and free acid was 5-1 ; after acetylation it was 

 55-6, corresponding to 20-8 per cent, if calculated for a sesquiterpene alcohol. 



