BY J. H. MAIDEN. 373 



Australia" p. 7. No doubt knowledge of the natural order of 

 this plant suggested its use. 

 It is found in all the colonies. 



27. Eucalyptus spp. 



It is very difficult to trace to individual species the properties 

 ascribed to Eucalyptus and its products. Eucalyptus is a name 

 very loosely used by many people, who forget that this large genus 

 comprises (Baron Mueller's Census) no less than 134 species, 

 (while a fresh one is occasionally discovered), and some of these 

 have varieties so well marked as to be classed as distinct species 

 by some authors. It should not be lost sight of that in this vast 

 genus the properties of different species are frequently very 

 different, so that to describe a product as simply *' Eucalyptus " is 

 but a bald description, and one likely to lead to great confusion. 

 There is some excuse for this, however, as Eucalyptus products 

 have only been brought under notice during the past quarter of 

 a century ; and some allowance must be made to outsiders in 

 respect to their references to a genus so imperfectly known to 

 Australians themselves. The leaves and flowers are usually far 

 removed from the ground (especially the flowers), and some 

 apparatus not usually possessed by pedestrians must be used to 

 obtain the latter. They are therefore comparatively unfamiliar ; 

 this is doubtless partly the reason why they are not better known. 



Eucalypts contain a volatile oil, varying in composition in some 

 species, and of a somewhat complex nature, a bitter or tonic 

 principle in an amorphous condition, and strongly hygroscopic, and 

 a Kino. 



The following species may perhaps be considered the chief 

 medicinal species : — 



For volatile oil, E. amygdalina, Lab ill. ; E. oleosa, F.v.M. ; E. 

 globulus, Labill. 



For bitter principle, E. rostrata, Schlecht. ; E. globulus, Labill. 



(All the above are New South Wales plants, E. globulus just 

 coming into our territory. ) 



