Eucalyptus 



731 



The name is Greek, in reference to the Ud-Uke cap of the calyx. Chytraculia 

 Patrick Browne, is the oldest name of this genus, but no type species was assigned 

 to it by him. 



V. EUCALYPTUS 



GENUS EUCALYPTUS L'HfiRITIER 

 Species Eucalyptus globulus Labillardibre 



iUCALYPTUS, also called Blue gum, was introduced into California 

 about 1870; on account of its rapid growth it has been very extensively 

 planted for timber and for shade, and has become spontaneous in 

 some locahties, promising to spread. In its native country it reaches 

 a height of 90 meters, with a trunk diameter of 7.5 m. Trees 30 years old have 

 attained a height of 45 m. in Cahfomia. 



The trunk is very straight and erect, its branches are rather short, forming a 

 symmetrical, conic tree. The bark is not very thick, usually flaking off at fre- 

 quent intervals, leaving a smooth, grayish or greenish surface; often, however, it 

 persists in long, stringy masses, especially near the base. The twigs are 4-sided 



Fig. 671. — Eucalyptus. 



on young trees. The leaves are alternate, those of the young plants being very 

 unlike those on mature branches; the former are opposite, ovate, equally rounded 

 at the base, and sessile, light colored and of a dusty appearance; those of older 

 plants are thick and leathery, lanceolate, 1.5 to 3 dm. long, scythe-shaped, un- 

 equally rounded at the base, long taper-pointed, thickened at the margin, smooth, 

 bluish green and pellucid punctate, both sides similar; they stand edgewise on the 

 slender stalks, and have a strong, aromatic, camphor-like odor. The flowers, in 

 axillary clusters of 2 or 3, are large and showy; the calyx-tube is angular and 

 warty, obovoid ; the calyx-lobes adhere to each other and come off in the form of 

 a lid; there is no corolla; the stamens are very numerous; anthers small, light 



