104 
No. 136. 
Eucalyptus hcemastoma, Srh. 
White or Scribbly Gum. 
(Family MYRTACE^E.) 
Botanical description.— Genus, Eucalyptus. (See Part II, p. 33.) 
Botanical description. —Species, E. /uemastunia, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc., iii, 
286 (1797). 
Leaves usually oblique or falcate, lanceolate, about 4 to 6 inches long, thickly coriaceous, the 
veins very oblique, not close, and often anastomosing as in E. obliqua, the lower ones 
sometimes broader and more reticulate. 
Peduncles more or less angular or compressed, axillary, lateral, or a few in a short terminal 
oblong panicle, each with about 4 to 8 flowers. 
Buds clavate. 
Calyx short and broad, scarcely two lines diameter, shortly tapering into a rather long thick, or 
rather slender pedicel. 
Operculum very short, hemispherical, obtuse. 
Stamens 2 to 3 lines long, inflected, the outer ones longer and anantherous, anthers of the perfect 
ones small, the cells opening in short, oblong, divergent at length, confluent slits. 
Fruit globular-truncate, or pear-shaped, 3 to 4 lines diameter, the rim broad, flat, or nearly so, 
usually deeply coloured ; the capsule slightly depressed, the valves often protruding when 
open, but very soon falling away. (B.F1. iii, 212.) 
Following are some additional notes 
Introductory. — The species is found in two principal varieties—a coarse form (the type as figured), 
and a slender one ; the latter with small flowers and fruits, and known as variety micrantha 
in consequence. 
Bark. —Smooth, with a few ribbony flakes near the butt. 
Timber. —Red, and of an inferior character, though a fairly lasting timber for posts in the 
districts in which it grows. Although the timber when cut splits in all directions, when it 
is used for posts it closes up, and has a fair durability. In other words, this White Gum is 
by no means as worthless a timber as some would have us suppose. 
It is a good burning wood, being considered by some people to throw out as good a 
heat as ironbark. It is deficient in tensile strength, being brittle. 
Mucker-leaves broadly lanceolate, somewhat similar in shape to the adult leaves, only larger ; 
4 to 6 inches long by inches broad are measurements of some from the Sydney district. 
Peduncles .—Angular and flattened. 
Calyx-tube.- Much longer than the operculum, and insensibly tapering into the pedicel. 
Operculum .—Pointed when young, becoming more hemispherical as maturity is approached. 
Often the buds may be described as clavate. 
