Eucalyptus 1625 



species and E. viminalis are mixed, a form is occasionally found, in which the flowers 

 are in threes, with the operculum and fruit quite smooth, the latter only ^ to ^ in. in 

 diameter, with the valves much protruding. This is possibly a hybrid. 



Distribution 



The Blue Gum is a native of Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales. In 

 Victoria, it occurs in valleys as well as on ridges and mountain slopes, chiefly in the 

 humid southern and eastern districts from Cape Otway to Wilson's promontory, and 

 extending northwards to the Hume and Tumut rivers in the southern part of New 

 South Wales, where it is also met with between Braidwood and Araluen. It appears, 

 however, to be very rare in New South Wales, as J. V. De Coque states ^ that he 

 only knows of it in this colony in the Tumberumba district at 2500 to 3000 ft. 

 elevation. There it is called Eurabbie, a purely local name, and is highly valued, 

 and largely used for mining purposes, and for bridge-decking and girders. Except 

 in the above district, it is little known in New South Wales, where it does not attain 

 anything like the size and height that it does in Victoria or Tasmania ; and recently 

 fell into disrepute, owing to E. amygdalina^ which lacks strength and durability, 

 having been mistaken for it. In Tasmania, it appears to be almost confined to the 

 south-eastern part of the island near the coast, extending inland, according to Sir J. D. 

 Hooker, from Hobart about forty miles. Rodway describes it as a tall erect tree, even 

 in exposed situations, with few and acutely diverging branches. A tree of full growth 

 will average 7 feet in diameter at the butt, 100 ft. to the lowest branch, and from 200 

 to 250 ft. in extreme height. In youth it grows rapidly; but when approaching 

 maturity the growth is almost imperceptible ; and Rodway supposes that the tree 

 takes 300 to 400 years to attain its full dimensions. The Rev. J. E. Tenison- Woods 

 says ^ that in Tasmania the forests of blue gum are limited in extent, and are confined 

 to a few localities, from sea-level to about 1000 ft. altitude. It is only on steep slopes 

 in the deep mountain valleys and gorges that the trees attain a great height. He 

 states that experiments have shown that the trees make two rings of growth each 

 year ; and that Mr. Hill, who cut up thousands of trees at his saw-mills at Honey- 

 wood, affirmed that he never found one over 75 years old ; but this statement seems 

 doubtful. 



History 



E. globulus was discovered in 1792 by Labillardiere in Tasmania, and was 

 described by him in 1799. It was introduced into continental conservatories early 

 in the 19th century, where, on account of its different foliage in the young state it 

 was known under several names.* It appears to have been first cultivated out of 



1 \aJoum. Proc. Roy. Soc. N'.S. Wales, xxviii. 212 (1894). 



2 E. Maideni, Mueller, another species also known as Blue Gum, has until recently been often confused with it. 



3 Injoum. Roy. Soc. JV.S. Wales, xii. 17-28 (1879). Cf. also Card. Chron. xiv. 179 and 187 (1880). 



* E. glauca, De CandoUe, Prod. iii. 221 (1828); E. puVverulenta, Link, Enum. PL Berol. ii. 31 (1822) (not Sims); 

 E. perfoliata. Noisette, ex Steudel, Nomencl. 320 (1821); and possibly E. perfoliata, Desfontaines, Cat. Hort. Paris, 

 408 (1829). 



