DESCRIPTION. 



E. amygdalina, Labill. 



The following description is based upon Bentham (B.FL, iii, 202), but by no means 

 literally follows tbe classical work referred to : — 



A tree, usually small or moderate-sized, but sometimes attaining a considerable height ; the bark 

 fibrous and persistent — not so fibrous as that of a " Stringy bark," and of looser texture than that of a " Box," 

 — of the character usually known in Australia as " Peppermint," since it was originally observed on trees 

 at Port Jackson whose foliage emitted a peppermint odour when crushed. The fibrous bark occurs only on 

 the trunk, or, at most, on the largest branches. The branches are usually quite smooth or ribbony. 



Juvenile Foliage. — Opposite, narrow-lanceolate. Probably all forms have the twigs more or less 

 rusty glandular ; sometimes the leaves are in threes. (See Pig. 3, pi. 29.) The variation in width of the 

 transit forms will be alluded to at p. 163. The under side is often purple. 



Mature Foliage. — Prom linear to broadly lanceolate, straight or falcate, mostly acuminate, and 

 2 to 4 in. long; when narrow rather thin, when broad thicker, the veins few and oblique, but often 

 inconspicuous, the intramarginal one at a distance from the edge, or rarely near to it. This species varies 

 in the size, shape, and texture of the leaves. The usual shape in New South Wales is lanceolate, or even 

 broadly lanceolate, but the typical form is linear-lanceolate, or even linear, comparatively thick, and the 

 veins very oblique at the base, not prominent. Sometimes the foliage is quite dense, in other cases it is 

 sparse. The various forms have leaves which have a pleasing, yet strong (sometimes very strong), odour of 

 peppermint, to which circumstance they owe their commonest vernacular name. The aroma is least 

 evident in var. niiida. 



Buds clavate, often glandular and rough. 



Calyx-tube turbinate, about 2 lines diameter, tapering into a pedicel often as long as itself. 



Operculum hemispherical, shorter than the calyx-tube ; very obtuse, or slightly umbonate. 



Peduncles axillary or lateral, terete or nearly so, with 4 to 8, and even more, flowers. 



Flowei'S. — Stamens under 2 lines long, inflected in the bud, all perfect ; anthers small, with 

 diverging, more or less confluent cells. Ovary flat-topped. 



Fruit. — Subglobose-truncate, usually under 3 lines diameter, but larger in some varieties ; slightly 

 contracted at the orifice, the rim flat or slightly concave and rather broad ; the capsule not at all, or only 

 slightly, sunk, the valves flat or slightly protruding. 



Following is a general description of them as far as New South Wales is concerned : — They are of 

 a pilular shape, though with some tendency to pear-shape. They are wide at the mouth and almost 

 hemispherical, the rim thin and also thickish and well-defined. As compared with New South Wales 

 forms the Tasmanian specimens have often more domed fruits, and the rim thicker and more conspicuous. 



Bentham's " sub-globose truncate" applies to some of the forms. The tips of the valves are some- 

 times slightly exserted. 



Timber. — Pale-coloured (nearly white) when newly cut, but drying to a pale brown. Often liable 

 to gum-veins, which tend to form thin concentric rings. Of inferior durability and strength as a very 

 general rale, but there are some apparently well-authenticated instances of the comparative durability of 

 this timber for posts and shingles, and other purposes which will be duly noted. 



Hahilat. — Tasmania is the home of the type, but it is very abundant in Victoria and New South 

 V\ ales, occurring in the colder districts of the last-named States. 



