EUCALYPTUS PUNCTATA. 



its tliick and angular branclilets, panicnkted upper umbels, broad umbel-stalks, usually longer 

 stalklets, longer lids and also the nature of the bark. 



The transparent dots of the leaves, from whicli the specific appellation was derived, come 

 only well into view after the drying of the foliage. 



The curious vernacular name arose from the tough leathery bark, usually darker tlian that of 

 E. tereticornis and E. rostrata and other species with almost whitish bark. Dr. Woolls believes, 

 that the Brown-barked Gum-tree of New England, mentioned by Mr. Christie, belongs to 

 E. punctata. The foliage ought to yield a fair quantity of volatile oil, which may prove peculiar. 

 The stomata occur only on the lower page of the leaves and number about 140,000 on a sqiiare 

 inch. 



The coast-variety of E. punctata produces thicker and larger leaves and also larger flowers 

 and fruits. 



The rate of growth, on which so very much depends for judging of the compara.tive value of 

 Eucalypts for timber-plantations, shows itself from trees, raised by me many years ago on dry 

 ridges near Melbourne, sufficiently fast advancing, to permit of this species being included among 

 those recommendable for practical forestry. We are mainly indebted to Dr. Woolls, who instituted 

 since the last quarter of a century observations on the Eucalypts of the Blue Mountains and the 

 vicinity of Sydney, for the restoration of E. punctata to specific rank. 



The wood of E. punctata, as well as that of E. rostrata, B. marginata and E. Sieberiana 

 (among species examined microscopically on this occasion) exhibits the parenchyma and medullary 

 rays tinged with a decidedly red-brown color, indicative of preservative deposits in the cells. 

 This tinge, when viewed under the microscope, is much paler in E. obliqua, E. globulus, E. 

 amygdalina, E. Stuartiana, B. goniocalyx, E. Gunnii, E. viminalis, E. hemiphloia, E. Behriana, 

 E. melliodora, E. botryoides and E. macrorrhyncha ; in E. polyanthema the medullary rays of 

 microscopic objects are deeply colored, but the parenchyma shows hardlj' any tinge. The wood- 

 sections had previously all been subjected to the action of water, alcohol and glycerine. In 

 accordance with the above observations E. punctata will probably rank high in its resistance to 

 decay underground and in any waterworks. 



Perhaps here it may be aptly remarked, that the question has repeatedly arisen, how the 

 injury, caused to heavy logs of timber through the tremendous shock sustained by falling on hard 

 bare and particularly rocky ground, could to some extent be obviated, the timber in its fall being 

 severely shaken, — although (as Mr. George Simpson observes in regard to the Jarrah) this may 

 not be discernible until some time after it is sawn. I would advise, that in a regular system of 

 Australian Forestery the Tanners' Wattles (particularly Acacia decurrens) should be sown on any 

 bare places around huge Eucalyptus-trees some years prior to the intended utilisation and removal 

 of the latter, as a dense underwood of wattles would materially break the force of the fall of any 

 heavy timber-trees. 



Explanation of Analytic Details. — 1, unexpanded flower, the ]id lifted ; 2, longitudinal section of an 

 unexpanded flower ; 3, stamens in situ ; 4 and 5, front- and back-view of a stamen ; 6, style and stigma ; 7 and 8, 

 longitudinal and transverse section of a fruit ; 9 and 10, fertile and sterile seeds ; 11, portion of a leaf ; all 

 magnified, but to various extent. 



