Chapter VIII. 



EUCALYPTS. 



The most striking feature in an Australian landscape is 

 the Gumtree. It is the typical tree of Australia, and 

 makes up the bulk of our forests. There are about a 

 hundred and fifty species, comprising all sizes, from 

 shrubs to some of the loftiest trees in the world. They 

 are equally variable in distribution, occurring from Tas- 

 mania to the Northern Territory, from the extreme east 

 to the farthest west, and from sea-level to near the top 

 of mountains. With all this wide range it is singular that 

 only two or three species are found outside Australia, and 

 they only extend to the Indian Archipelago. Although 

 Gums have such a wide range, most are very sensitive to 

 environment. Different altitudes support different species. 

 The tree of a 2000-feet situation will not, as a rule, be 

 found much above or below it. Hardly a Gum native of 

 Tasmania is found as far north as Sydney, and equally 

 few are common to both East and West Australia. They 

 constitute the genus Eucalyptus, which again belongs to 

 the Myrtle family. The name is composed of two roots: 

 eu signifies complete or typical; and calyptus, a hood. 

 The name is very appropriate, as it marks the peculiar cap 

 that falls off when the flower expands. The distribution, 

 varied forms, and relation to its immediate allies lead us 

 to conclude that Eucalyptus is a very modern genus; that 

 is, it is of comparatively recent development. Of course, 

 when we speak of recent in geology or botany we mean 

 something more than a few thousand years. Such a period, 

 though much to man, is as nothing Vhen we are dealing 

 with changes of the earth's surface or the evolution of 

 animal or plant life. 



In order to understand more of a Gumtree, let us take 

 what we may term an intermediate form, and in studying 

 that compare it with other types. We will examine Manna- 

 gum, also called White-gum, or, botanically, Eucalyptus 

 viminalis, Lab. The seed is a little dark object of irregu- 

 lar shape. It has a thick outer coat and a thin inner one, 

 within which is a minute embryo plant with a miniature 

 root and shoot, and two leaves which are closely wrapped 

 round the other parts. Here the little being will lie for 

 months, even years, nearly dormant, awaiting a favourable 



