66 EUCALYPTS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



being sixteen years in use, were found almost perfectly sound in the 

 ground. Maiden states that it is one of the best fuel woods they have 

 in New South Wales. 



Eucalyptus leucoxylon. 

 South Australian Blue Gum. 



Characteristics. —Trees of this species attain fair size in a compara- 

 tively short time and when full grown are large. They are apt to 

 grow out of the perpendicular and the trunks are frequently crooked. 

 By giving them some attention when young, however, they may be 

 made to grow erect and straight. The bark is smooth and light in 

 color. (PI. XXVIIl.) The wood is white and quite straight grained, 

 the former characteristic giving to the tree its specific name leucoxylon^ 

 the Greek for "white wood." The foliage has a pleasing bluish cast, 

 and is well distributed over the tree. The leaves of the young seed- 

 ling are broad, opposite, and stemless or short stemmed. (See PI. 

 LXXXVI, A.) The seedling is weak and disposed to recline on the 

 ground in a vine-like manner. Later it assumes an approximately 

 erect position. The leaves grow scattered and are long and slender on 

 distinct stems, the whole aspect of the tree being quite different from 

 that of the seedling. The flowers grow in threes on somewhat slender 

 stems and are abundant and qiiite showy, varying in color from white 

 to pink or reddish. The seed cases are somewhat egg-shaped or 

 globular. (See PI. LXV.) 



Climatic requirements. — This tree will grow in a greater variety of 

 climates than most Eucalypts. In fact, there are few situations in the 

 Southwest in which it will not thrive. It grows vigorously on the 

 coast, on the interior plains and foothills, and in the dry, hot desert 

 valleys of the interior. It is especially thrifty at Santa Monica (PI. 

 XXVIIl), within a few rods of the ocean, and at Phoenix, Ariz. (PL 

 XXIX). It endures mininuim temperatures of 15° to 20° F. In fact, 

 the writer has never observed it seriously injured by the heaviest frosts 

 nor the highest temperatures that occur in the desert regions of Ari- 

 zona. It is one of the hardiest of the fast-growing forest trees from 

 Australia. 



Uses. — On account of its adaptability to so great a variety of climatic 

 conditions, it can be used as a forest cover for almost all kinds of situa- 

 tions, and thus supply a timber useful for a large number of purposes. 

 It can be grown for fuel and for the other purposes that the ordinary 

 Blue Gum {Eucalyj>txis glolndus) serves where the latter will not grow. 



Eucalyptus long-ifolia. 



WOOLLY-BI'TT. 



Characteristics. — The tree is usually shapely, and commonly attains 

 onlv a moderate size, but sometimes reaches a height of 200 feet in 



