130 
No. 21. 
Eucalyptus hemiphloia, F.v.M. 
The White or Grey Box. 
(Natural Order MYRTACE^E.) 
Botanical description. —Genus, Eucalyptus, L. Ileriticr (see part ii, p. 33). 
Botanical description. —Species, E. hemiphloia, E.v.M., Fragm., ii, G3. 
The following description is by Mueller himself, and is taken from the Eucal) ptographia. As a 
matter of uniformity and convenience, I prefer to adopt, where there is no objection, the 
classic descriptions of Bentham, as contained in the Flora Auslraliensis, but in the present 
case Bentham separates E. hemiphloia from E. albens, which I have no hesitation in saying 
has been proved most amply to be an erroneous view, although extreme forms, without their 
innumerable gradations, present some diversity in general appearance. (J.H.M ) 
Leaves. —Scattered, elongate or oval lanceolar, of firm consistence, of equal colour on both sides, 
only slightly or sometimes moderately curved, not very shining, the lateral veins diverging 
at a very acute angle, the circumferential vein very evidently removed from the edge of the 
leaf. 
Oil-dots. —Usually obliterated or much concealed. 
Umbels .—In lateral or terminal short panicles or some solitary, on angular stalks, with from four 
to ten flowers. 
Calyces. —Somewhat angular. 
Stalklcts. —Comparatively thick, of the length of the tube or shorter. 
Operculum. —Broadish-conical, rather acute or even pointed, seldom semiovate, about as long as 
the tube or somewhat shorter. 
Stamens .—All fertile, inflected before expansion. 
Anthers .—Very minute, globular, opening laterally, by pore-like apertures. 
Stigma. —Slightly or not broader than the style. 
Fruits. —Truncated-ovate or heinieliipsoid, three- to five-celled, the rim narrow-compressed, 
prominent, valves quite enclosed, short. 
Seeds. —Without any appendage, the fertile much larger than the short sterile seeds. 
Botanical Name. — Eucalyptus, already explained (see p. 34, part ii); 
hemiphloia, from two Greek words— he mi, half, and phloia, bark—half-barked. 
Vernacular Names. —It is called Grey Box because of its tough, inlocked 
character, which reminded the early settlers of Turkey Box. Ilere, however, the 
resemblance ceases, as our box is a coarser-grained, dullcr-looking timber, while in 
Australia it often goes by the name of “ Box,” the adjectives “ Grey ” or “ White ” 
being used to distinguish it from Bed Box, Brush Box, &c. 
