72 EUCALYPTS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



In the Southwest it has made a fairl}" rapid growth, but does not give 

 promise of reaching a great size. The trees are inclined to be tall 

 and slender, with little foliage near the ground. (PI. XXXV.) The 

 bark of the lower part of the trunk is dark gray, rough, and partially 

 persistent, but from most of the trunk it flakes otf in patches. The 

 })ark of the branches is smooth and light colored. The twigs are often 

 conspicuously angled. The leaves are scattered, nearly lance-shaped, 

 and aliout the same color on each side. The flowers are of medium 

 size, in clusters of -t to 16, on scattered stalks. The flower-bud cover- 

 ings are conical. The seed cases are nearly spherical, or the shape of 

 the broad part of an egg. The round form, resembling that of a pill, 

 suggested the specific name pilularis. 



Climatic requirements. — The Blackbutt grows along the coast of 

 southeastern Australia, and to some extent on inland mountain slopes. 

 In America it grows quite thriftil}^ at and near the coast, but does 

 not thrive in the dr}^ hot interior valleys, enduring neither very high 

 nor very low temperatures. 



Uses. — The strong and durable timber of the Blackbutt is used in 

 Australia for house carpentr}^ for bridge and ship building, for tele- 

 graph poles, and for railway ties. Its slender growth makes it espe- 

 cially suitable for telegraph poles. It is considered one of the best 

 all around timbers furnished by an}^ Eucalypt. Fence posts of this 

 timber are reported to last twenty years. The tree is an excellent 

 honey producer, the honey from it being reported to be of an especialh^ 

 good quality. 



Eucalyptus piperita. 

 White Stringy-bark. 



Characteristics. — The trees of this species attain a considerable 

 height and are commonly erect and quite shapely. The grayish bark 

 of the trunk is fibrous and persistent. The leaves of the adult trees 

 vary in shape from a l)roadly lance-shaped and very unequally sided 

 to a narrowly lance-shaped and quite straight leaf. The young seed- 

 lings are clothed with distinct hairs. The flowers are of about medium 

 size, in compact clusters of 6 to 12. The flower-bud coverings are 

 cone-shaped or taper-pointed. The seed cases are the shape of the 

 broader part of an egg or are nearly spherical. 



Cliinatic requirements. — This tree makes a fairly rapid growth near 

 the coast and in cool inland situations, but does not endure dry, hot 

 climates, and will not tolerate heavy frosts. 



Uses.—T^e timber is readily split and is used for fencing and gen- 

 eral building purposes. It is one of the species eligible for planting 

 for a forest cover on mountain sides where it is not too dry nor sub- 

 ject to too heav^}' frosts. 



