28 EUCALYPTS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 
trees that attain, when full grown, a height of 100 to 300 feet. This 
early blooming greatly facilitates their identification and their propa- 
gation from seed. ‘The flowering periods of the different species vary 
considerably, extending through the entire year. Some species remain 
in blossom a large portion of the year, some bloom during two dis- 
tinct periods of the year, while of others the flowering season is quite 
limited. 
The flowers usually grow in clusters, which botanists call umbels, 
rarely singly. The clusters are borne at the leaf axils or at the ends 
of branches, usually singly; but in some species several clusters are 
found arranged in what botanists call a panicle. The unopened flower 
buds are hermetically sealed by a close covering that corresponds to 
the outer leaves, or calyx, of most other flowers. It was this close 
covering of the flowers that suggested to L’Hertier, the botanist who 
discovered and named the genus, the name Eucalyptus, the word 
meaning in Greek ‘* well concealed.” As the flower opens, the upper 
part separates as a lid and falls away, while the lower half of the 
calyx remains permanently and incloses the developing seeds. At the 
same time there falls away a less conspicuous under covering that is 
thought to correspond to the petals of other flowers. The flowers 
when open, therefore, are destitute of any enveloping flower leaves. 
The stamens constitute the most conspicuous feature of the opened 
flowers, being usually very numerous. They differ considerably in 
color, the prevailing tint, however, being greenish or yellowish white. 
Of some species the stamens are highly colored, thus causing the 
flowers to be strikingly beautiful, and consequently highly prized for 
ornament. 
THE SEEDS. 
The persisting portion of the calyx becomes a firm, tough covering 
for the seed case, which endures much weathering and usually remains 
on the tree for a considerable period. The seed cases of the different 
species vary in size from one-eighth of an inch to 1 inch in diameter. 
The shapes are various, the prevailing forms being that of a cup, a 
goblet, a top, or an egg. As the seed cases mature the upper cover- 
ing separates into from three to five tooth-like bodies termed valves, 
and the seeds fall out between them. The valves when open either 
project from the mouth of the seed case or are included init. The 
shape of the seed case and the position of the valves peculiar to each 
species furnish valuable data for determining the name of a Eucalypt. 
The seeds are, with a few exceptions, quite small and very numerous, 
many, however, usually beinginfertile. The smallness of the seeds (the 
usual length being 0.04 to 0.1 inch) makes their transportation easy 
and the rearing of young plants on a large scale practicable. The 
number of young plants that the seeds of a single tree would produce 
per year Is enormous. 
