153. Eucalyptus vitrea. 



(K.T.B.. Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1900, p. i 3, t. XV.) 

 White Top Messmate. 



Systematic. A tall tree, with a roughish bark, similar to E. amygdalina, 

 Labill., the extremities of the branches being smooth. Abnormal leaves alternate 

 or opposite, with a short petiole, or sessile, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, under 

 6 inches long, i.| inch broad; lateral veins diverging from below the middle of 

 the mid-rib, prominent on both sides, intramarginal vein removed from the 

 edge. Normal leaves narrow, lanceolate, about 6 inches long, and 6 to 9 lines 

 wide, shining on both sides, a dull green when fresh, but drying a light-slate colour, 

 petiole short ; lateral veins few, and almost parallel to the mid-rib, two generally 

 commencing at the base of the mid-rib, and running the whole length of the leaf, 

 and almost parallel to the mid-rib. Peduncles axillary, short, 2 to 3 lines long, 

 bearing generally from five to eight flowers ; buds from 2-| to 4 lines long ; oper- 

 culum hemispherical, shortly acuminate. 



Fruit. Shortly pedicellate, hemispherical to pyri- 

 form, shining; rim thick, red, slightly 

 convex; about 3 to 5 lines in diameter, 

 and 3 to 5 lines in length. 



The hemispherical form much resembles E. dives, but 

 is larger, and the pyriform shape is like E. coriacea. 



Habitat. Crookwell, Moss Vale, mountains north of Marulan, 

 Bungendore, and Delegate, New South Wales; 

 Victoria. 



REMARKS. This tree is also known locally as " Silver-top Messmate," " Peppermint," and " Messmate " ; 

 but in connection with this species it is not proposed to perpetuate the two latter vernacular names, which should be. 

 we think, restricted to E. dives, Schau., and E. phellandra, respectively. It is called "Silver-top" from the 

 glinting of the shining leaves in the sunlight, which causes them to appear silvery. For a similar reason E. Icevopinea. 

 R.T.B., is called " Silver-top Stringybark." In the South it is known as " Bastard Messmate!" This tree has been 

 confounded with E. coriacea, A. Cunn., when determined on herbarium material alone. In the field, however, its 

 willowy appearance differentiates it from E. coriacea. This tree has either a roughish " Messmate " or smooth bark, 

 and always clean or white limbs, and a leaf venation similar to that of E. coriacea, and more particularly perhaps 

 that of E. stellulala, Sieb. The term "White-top" is, no doubt, used to distinguish it from the "Messmate," E. 

 phellandra. not that the leaves are white, but only, as stated above, appear so from the reflected light of the sun 

 irom the glossy surface of the leaves, and from which feature it takes its specific name. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Crookwell, N.S.W., in June, 1900. The yield of oil was 1-5 per 

 cent. The crude oil was almost colourless, and had a somewhat pleasant pepper- 

 mint odour, although the ketone piperitone does not occur in great amount. 

 Phellandrene was present in quantity, but pinene almost absent. Cineol was 

 detected to the extent of about 20 to 25 per cent, in the crude oil. The third fraction 

 contained the sesquiterpene. A constituent having a strong lemon odour was 

 also .present ; this was probably citral, as the aldehyde reaction was obtained, 

 but it was not in sufficient quantity to separate. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. := 0-886 ; rotation a a 30-1 ; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4771, and was soluble in i volume 80 per cent, alcohol, 

 The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 5-4. 



