582 XXVIII. MYRTACEAE 



often forming almost impenetrable thickets. Has recently been tried on the 

 plains of northern India, but gives Httle promise of success. 



45. Eucalyptus obliqua, L'Herit. Stringybark (South Australia and 

 Tasmania), messmate tree (Victoria). 



A very tall straight tree, attaining a maximum height of about 300 ft. 

 Bark persistent, very fibrous, greyish outside, brownish red inside, rather soft. 

 Wood not very durable but much used, owing to its abundance, for rough 

 building purposes ; very fissile, and extensively split into palings, shingles, &c. 

 It is said to be an indifferent fuel, but this has not been found to be the case 

 in the Nilgiris, where it is much used. The bark is used for roofing. South 

 Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, one of the commonest 

 and most gregarious of the eucalypts, forming vast forests and extending to 

 high but not to alpine elevations. It does not stand drought. After E. Globulus 

 this is one of the commonest species in the Nilgiris, where it reaches large 

 dimensions. It was tried at Saugor in the Central Provinces in 1874-6, but 

 failed. It has been tried in the Simla hills at various elevations, but so far 

 has not proved successful. It has failed hitherto on the plains of northern 

 India, but recently it has given more promise of success in the early stages 

 at Saharanpur. 



Eucalyptus obtusifolia, DC, see 74. E. virgata, Sieb. 



46. Eucalyptus occideutalis, Endl. Flat-topped yat. 



A moderate-sized tree, attaining fairly large dimensions in favourable 

 locaUties, but often Uttle more than a shrub. Wood hard and strong, used 

 for wheel-work. Western Australia, on clayey as well as on sandy soil, and 

 also in wet places. Has recently been tried on the plains of northern India, 

 but does not show much promise. 



47. Eucalyptus paniculata, Smith. White ironbark. 



A moderate-sized tree, attaining a height of 60 to 70 ft. Bark persistent, 

 hard, rough, brown. Wood strong and very durable, much used for wheel- 

 work, carriage-building, construction, sleepers, posts, &c. Chiefly in New 

 South Wales in the coastal regions ; also in Victoria. It can stand poor dry 

 soil but not excessive heat or drought. There are specimens in the Nilgiris : 

 Sim's Park, Forest Lodge (R. Bourne). It has recently been tried experi- 

 mentally for plantation work in those hills, but so far the growth has been 

 slow. It has been tried since 1909 in the Simla hills, and has done weU hitherto 

 at elevations below 4,000 ft. It has been grown for some time at Saharanpur, 

 and there are a few trees at Changa Manga. Flowers September-October, 

 Punjab (Parker). 



48. Eucalyptus pateutinervis, R. T. Baker. Bastard mahogany. 



A large tree with angular branchlets and bark resembling that of some 

 species of pine. New South Wales. Has recently been tried at Dehra Dun 

 and has estabhshed itself, but has not been tried long enough to give definite 

 results. 



Eucalyptus pauciflora, Sieb., see 12. E. coriacea, A. Cunn. 



49. Eucalyptus pilularis, Smith. Blackbutt. 



A very large tree. Bark persistent at the base, greyish, fibrous, and rough, 

 falling off in strips from the upper part of the trunk and branches. Wood 

 hard, tough, and durable, used for building, ship-building, paving-blocks, 



