295 



159. Eucalyptus oreades. 



(R.T.B., Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1899, p. 596, t. XLIII.) 

 A Mountain Ash. 



Systematic. A tall tree, with a smooth, whitish bark, or sometimes 

 haying a slightly rough bark 6 to 8 feet from the ground. Abnormal leaves thin, 

 elliptical-oval, shortly acuminate, on a petiole of about i inch or more, venation 

 more distinct than on mature leaves. Normal leaves long, often measuring 9 

 inches, thick, shining, dark green on both sides, on rather long petioles, lanceolate, 

 falcate ; venation distinct, intramarginal vein removed from the edge, lateral 

 veins very oblique, often approaching the venation of E. coriacea, A. Cunn. 

 Peduncles axillary, not numerous, generally with about six to eight flowers. 

 Calyx tube hemispherical, on a pedicel of about 2 to 3 lines ; operculum hemi- 

 spherical, acuminate, about the size of the calyx. 



Fruit. Pedicellate, hemispherical, rarely pyriform, 

 occasionally ribbed ; the rim broad or 

 slightly countersunk ; valves rarely or 

 scarcely exserted ; about 3 lines in 

 diameter. 



In the mature stage they have the truncate edge of E. 

 resinifera, but the valves are very small compared with 

 that species. 



The fruits in the early stages are somewhat similar in 

 shape to those of E. stricta, Sieb., E. obtusiflora, and 

 E. fraxinoides, but, perhaps, slightly smaller. 



Habitat. Lawson, Mount Victoria, and road to Jenolan Caves, 

 New South Wales. It was a tree of this species 

 that Lawson, Blaxland, and Wentworth marked on 

 their first attempt to cross the Blue Mountains, and 

 which is now fenced in at Katoomba. 



REMARKS. This tree is allied to E. Sieberiana, F.v.M., in the venation, shape of the leaves, and timber, 

 but it differs from it in its smooth bark, shape of fruits, paler timber, &c. When seen in its native habitat it might 

 at first be passed as E. saligna, Sm., but differs from that species in the timber, fruit, and chemical constituent of its 

 oil, and venation of the leaves. It is altogether distinct from E. virgata, Sieb., or E. Luelimanniana. This tree is 

 mostly to be found at the head of gullies on the Blue Mountains, at the foot of precipitous sandstone cliffs, and near 

 the foot of waterfalls, or on the edge of the pools. It also occurs on the ridges, as at Katoomba. It grows very tall, 

 with scarcely a branch till near the top or head. The tree thought to be this species in Tasmania is E. Risdoni, 

 Hook, f., the mature fruits of the two being somewhat alike. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Lawson, N.S.W., in May, 1899. The yield of oil was i'2 per cent. 

 The crude oil was almost colourless, and had a peppermint odour, due to the 

 presence of a small amount of piperitone. It contained much phellandrene, 

 but only a small amount of pinene. Cineol was present only in traces in the 

 crude oil. Crystallised eudesmol was detected at the time of distillation. The 

 third fraction consisted largely of the sesquiterpene. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-8869; rotation D 227; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4888, and was soluble in I volume 80 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 8-2. 



