Eucalyptus 



n^ 



The name is Greek, in reference to the lid-Hke cap of the calyx. Chytraculia 

 Patrick Browne, is the oldest name of this genus, but no type species was assigned 

 to it by him. 



V. EUCALYPTUS 



GENUS EUCALYPTUS L'HERITIER 

 Species Eucalyptiis globulus Labillardiere 



UCALYPTUS, also called Blue gum, was introduced into Cahfomia 

 about 1870; on account of its rapid growth it has been very extensively 

 planted for timber and for shade, and has become spontaneous in 

 some locahties, promising to spread. In its native country it reaches 

 a height of 90 meters, with a trunk diameter of 7.5 m. Trees 30 years old have 

 attained a height of 45 m. in Cahfomia. 



The trunk is very straight and erect, its branches are rather short, forming a 

 symmetrical, conic tree. The bark is not ver}^ thick, usually flaking off at fre- 

 quent inter\'als, leaving a smooth, grayish or greenish surface ; often, however, it 

 persists in long, stringy masses, especially near the base. The twigs are 4-sided 



Fig. 671. Eucalyptus. 



on young trees. The leaves are alternate, those of the young plants being very 

 unHke those on mature branches; the former are opposite, ovate, equally rounded 

 at the base, and sessile, Ught colored and of a dusty appearance; those of older 

 plants are thick and leather}', lanceolate, 1.5 to 3 dm. long, scythe-shaped, un- 

 equally rounded at the base, long taper- pointed, thickened at the margin, smooth, 

 bluish green and pellucid punctate, both sides similar; they stand edgewise on the 

 slender stalks, and have a strong, aromatic, camphor-like odor. The flowers, in 

 axillary clusters of 2 or 3, arc large and showy; the calyx-tube is angular and 

 warty, obovoid ; the calyx-lobes adhere to each other and come off in the form of 

 a lid; there is no corolla; the stamens are very numerous; anthers small, light 



