176 
Botanical Name. — Eucalyptus, already explained, p. 34, Part II ; dives, 
Latin, abundant, referring to the great profusion of the flowers. 
Vernacular Names. —It is usually known as “Peppermint” throughout its 
range, and especially so in the western districts. It is called “ Blue Peppermint ” 
at Rylstone, “ Messmate ” in the southern districts generally. 
Synonyms. —1. E. amygdalina, Labill., var. dives, E.v.M.; 2. E. amygdalina, 
Labill., var. latifolia, Deane and Maiden, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., x, 609 (1895), 
with PJate LVII. 
Leaves. —A very obvious character is the cordate, broad, clasping leaves, 
which remain opposite for a long time, often in the flowering stage. The leaves are 
very aromatic. Messrs. Baker and Smith, “ Research on the Eucalypts,” report:— 
Species- 
Whence Collected 
for Oil. 
Specific. 
Gravity at 
15° C. 
Specific 
Rotation 
[a] i). 
Saponifica¬ 
tion 
Number. 
Solubility 
in 
Alcohol. 
Constituents found. 
dives 
Fagan’s Creek, 
Braidwood, 
Barber’s Creek, 
Berrima, Ryl- 
stone. 
0-8713 
to 
0-8887 
— 62-68° 
to 
— 72-45° 
2-9 
1 vol. 80% to 
insoluble. The 
solubility being 
governed by the 
amount of the 
peppermint 
constituent pre¬ 
sent. 
Phellandrene, 
pinene, pepper¬ 
mint ketone, 
aromadendral 
(traces). 
Flowers. —This is, as the name denotes, a very free fiowerer. 
Timber. —Pale-coloured, full of concentric gum (kino) veins. It would be 
difficult to get a sound log of any size, and it is an almost worthless timber. 
Size. —Usually a tree of medium size, though in the southern ranges it 
attains a height of, say, 60 feet, with a stem diameter of 2 or 3 feet. 
Habitat. —This species is confined to New South Wales and Victoria so far 
as is known at present. It appears to be confined to the north-eastern portion of 
the latter State. 
New South Wales. 
It frequents much of the sterile rocky country of the colder parts of this 
State, both south and north, but its precise range remains to be determined. 
Mr. Ronald Campbell, Cambalong, Bombala, thus speaks of it:— 
The Peppermint of the district (Monaro). A bad timber from every point of view. It suckers 
badly, but as it frequents dry, poor, stony ridges, it is but little disturbed. 
