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Botanical Name. — Eucalyptus, already explained, Part IT, p. 31; obliqua, 
Latin, oblique. It is a coarse-foliaged tree, by which characteristic alone it can 
usually be distinguished from those species with which it is usually associated, or 
with which it is likely to be confused. Its strikingly oblique, unsymmetrical leaves 
have, no doubt, given origin to its name. Obliquity is a character of nearly all 
Eucalyptus leaves, but in the species under consideration, and in E. capitellatu , it is 
particularly observable. 
Vernacular Names. —It is usually known as “ Stringybark ” in Tasmania 
and South Australia, and to a less extent in Victoria; in the last State, however, it 
is usually known as “Messmate,” because it is associated or mess-mates with other 
Stringybarks and fibrous-barked Eucalypts. The same name is in use in southern 
New South Wales, as for instance, at Sugarloaf Mountain, Braidwood, and at 
Tantawanglo Mountain, near Cathcart. Apparently this is the most widely used 
name for it in New South Wales, and the term “ Stringybark” does not seem to be 
usually applied to it in this State. 
Because it is usually rough-barked to the ends of the branches, it sometimes 
goes by the name of “Woolly-topped Messmate ” in the Braidwoud district (Monga, 
&c.). Other names are “ Bastard Stringybark,” “ Woolly Butt,” “ Woolly Bark,” 
and “ White Stringybark,” all in use in New England, New South Wales. 
Synonyms. —The accidental suppression of the name E. obliqua, through 
ignorance of L’Heritier’s plant, has already been referred to. 
Because it is so widely diffused, and the early botanists were ignorant as to 
the limitations of many species of this genus, quite a crop of synonyms has gathered 
round it. Eor a list of them, with explanatory notes, see my “ Critical Revision of 
the Genus Eucalyptus,” Part II, p. 57. 
Leaves. —The coarseness and obliquity of the foliage has already been 
referred to. 
Bark .—Rougb-barked to the ends of the branches; the bark of the trunk 
and branches is decidedly fibrous, but the fibres are not so clean and tenacious as 
those of the true Stringybarks, and the bark is not so suitable for roofing. 
Timber. —That from New South Wales localities is a rather inferior, coarse, 
open-grained, porous wood, liable to shrink and warp. It is not esteemed for 
public works in New South Wales. Its open nature may be, at least in part, a 
consequence of rapid growth, for which, according to several authorities, E. obliqua 
has the reputation. 
It has been used in the Braidwood and Cooma districts for many years for 
building purposes. In Victoria and Tasmania it is largely used, and a recent official 
publication of the latter State says : “It is our most valuable wood.” In considering 
