Eucalyptus l &33 



EUCALYPTUS VIMINALIS, Manna Gum 



Eucalyptus viminalis, Labillardiere, PI. Nov. Holl. ii. 12, t. 151 (1806); J. D. Hooker, Fl. Tasm. 

 i. 134 (i860); Bentham and Mueller, Fl. Austral, iii. 239 (1866); Mueller, Eucalyptographia, 

 Dec. x. (1884); Masters, in Gard. Chron.br. 596, fig. 82 (1888); Deane and Maiden, in 

 Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxvi. 137 (1901); Deane, in Rep. Austral. Assoc. Advance. 

 Science, Hobart, 1902, p. 378; Rodway, Tasmanian Flora, 57 (1903). 



A tree, usually of moderate size, but occasionally attaining 200 ft. in height. 

 Bark variable, sometimes peeling off in ribbons, and smooth and white from the base 

 upwards, and sometimes persistent and scaly even to the upper branches. Young 

 branchlets very slender, with four projecting ridges, green and not glaucous ; older 

 branchlets terete, reddish brown. Leaves (Plate 365, Fig. 8) on adult trees, 

 alternate, narrowly lanceolate, averaging 5 to 6 in. long, and \ to in. wide ; but 

 often larger or smaller than these dimensions ; falcate ; unequal and cuneate at the 

 base ; gradually tapering to a long acuminate apex, prolonged into a long slender 

 curved or twisted filament-like tip ; margin whitish, undulate, revolute ; equally 

 light green and not glaucous on both surfaces ; oil-dots numerous, unequal, pellucid 

 on young leaves, not conspicuous on old leaves ; lateral veins numerous, arising from 

 the midrib at an angle of 45, the circumferential vein being regularly distant ^\ in. 

 from the margin ; petiole slender, twisted, about ^ in. long. 



Flowers in axillary umbels, usually in threes, rarely six to eight ; peduncle ^ in. 

 long ; pedicels about ^ 2 in. long ; calyx-tube hemispherical, about in. long, crowned 

 by an operculum, equal in length, conical, and tipped with a short point ; stamens all 

 fertile, inflexed in the bud ; anthers ovate, with parallel distinct cells. Fruit turbinate, 

 about i in. long, and in. in width at the distal end, on short pedicels ; rim broad 

 and convex ; capsule not sunk, with usually four valves, protruding when open 

 beyond the orifice. 



This species is very variable ; but typical Tasmanian specimens have three- 

 flowered umbels, and very small fruits. Forms occur in which the flowers are more 

 numerous, four to eight in the umbel, and with long pedicels ; and such trees are said 

 to have rough scaly bark. Forms also occur with three-flowered umbels and large 

 fruits. The leaves are also sometimes very narrow, almost quite linear. 



This species occurs in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and New South 

 Wales. In Tasmania, it is very abundant throughout the island, where it is known 

 commonly as white gum, according to Rodway, 1 who states that it seldom exceeds 

 the dimensions of a small tree, with a much-branched and spreading habit. In 

 Australia, where it is widely distributed, it occasionally reaches a great height, 

 being perhaps in rare cases as tall as any other species. It is usually known as 

 manna gum, owing to its being the chief species which produces mellitose manna. 

 This exudes from the bark in minute drops, and is supposed to be due to the 

 punctures of species of cicada, though often no trace of insect attack can be found. 



' In J. C. Penny, Tasmanian Forestry, 15, 18, 20 (1905). 



