37 
Fruits. —Note the urn-shaped fruits which are characteristic of the species. 
Bark .—It has a thin, sub-fibrous hark which is readily remembered when 
once recognised, and the name “peppermint” as applied to other species of 
Eucalyptus in Australia, is now well known, and usually is applied to such trees as 
have a bark like the present species. 
Timber. —It is pale-coloured and distinctly inferior, only used for local 
purposes, or as an “ adulterant ” of better timber. I believe that it is never used 
(willingly) in public works in New South Wales. Some years ago, the late 
Mr. Augustus Rudder, Forester, Myall River and Manning River districts, wrote 
as follows concerning it, and I think the estimate is quite just:— 
Sometimes called White Stringybark. This timber often attains to large size. The wood is soft, 
and subject to gum-veins, and shrinks, and cracks a good deal in the seasoning, and is not lasting, and 
should be avoided in all public works. If properly seasoned, however, it may be used for flooring-boards 
and other purposes under cover where better timber is not to be had Is distributed on low-lying lands 
and mountain districts near the coast. 
The only occasion in which timber of this species has been officially tested is 
stated below, and I only quote it because I understood at the time that Baron von 
Mueller was responsible for the naming of it. 
“BLACKBUTT” (E. piperita) EXPERIMENTED UPON BY THE VICTORIAN 
TIMBER BOARD, 1884. 
The samples tested were each 7 ft. in length by lj in. square; the distance between the bearings was 6 ft. ; 
and the weight was gradually applied in the centre until the sample broke. 
Locality 
where 
Grown. 
Approximate 
Date when the 
Timber was cut. 
Dimensions of 
Trees. 
Date of Testing'. 
Weight of each 
Samples in lbs. 
Average Weight 
of Samples in lbs. 
Average Weight 
per cubic foot 
in lbs. 
Average Specific 
Gravity. 
Breaking Weight 
of each Sample 
in cwts. qrs. lbs. 
Average Breaking 
Weight of 
Samples in lbs. 
Deflection at 
Point of Rupture 
in inches. 
Average Deflec¬ 
tion in inches. 
Average Specific 
Strength. j 
Geological Forma¬ 
tion where the 
Trees grew. 
Elevation above 
Sea Level. 
Ranges 
near 
Fernshaw, 
Victoria. 
19/1/83 
2 ft. 6 in. 
diameter 
28/1/84 
14/2(84 
14/2/84 
iH) 
124 
ill) 
11-83 
69-22 
1-109 
4.3.0 j 
4.2.2 \ 
5.1-17J 
547-6 
2») 
2-66 
1,495 
Felspar 
por¬ 
phyry. 
A few 
hundred 
feet. 
Size. —It is not one of our largest trees, being usually a foot in stem 
diameter, with a height of 40 or 50 feet, hut I have seen it with a stem diameter of 
3 feet and a height of perhaps 80 feet. 
Habitat .—This species is almost confined to New South Wales. 
North and South Coast districts-, as far north as the Myall Lakes, hut the 
northern limit is uncertain. At Bullahdelah there are many large frees of this 
species, consequently it is not likely that this place represents its northern 
boundary. 
I have not seen any indubitable E. piperita from Queensland. There are 
plants in the Melbourne Herbarium from the Macleay and Clarence Rivers, attributed 
to E. piperita ; hut they have no fruits, and the determination should he confirmed. 
R 
