54 
GROUP III. E. ROSTRATA. 
40. E. ROSTRATA Schlechtendal. 
NATURAL HABITAT, DESCRIPTION, AND USES. 
To this species belongs the ^eS°AusteSMSS 
range than any other eucalypt In every htat g habitat it has 
it is less or more widely distributed. Everywhere inj ith 
followed the course of rivers and streams spreading f'.dchuiks of the 
inferior growth on to drier areas. It is at its best along the flooded banks ot the 
River Murray where that river forms the boundary between heisht 
and Victoria There, subject to annual inundation, it grows rapidly to a height 
7 Ufi a die'.,, up to and over 8ft. .1.8 »»- 
in the forests of those States, and easily elaims rank as one , 8 
valuable of the world’s hardwood timber yielders. Left to itself m an op n 
situation, the tree will form a short crooked stem with spi-eadmg branches and 
drooping branchlets; properly controlled under forest conditions, it will develop 
a long straight shaft, suitable in the pole stage for carrying electric wires o m 
large diameters for conversion into railway-sleepers, wood-blocks, or heavy tim . 
for building construction. 
The dead bark of E. rostrata is non-fibrous and comes off the upper part of 
the tree in thin scales or sheets, but often persists at the base of the stem un 1 
it forms coarse plates divided by deep cracks. Leaves in the seedling stage narrow 
or rarely oval, and already stalked; those of the adult tree narrow, rather long, 
falcate, and of the same dull green on both surfaces. Umbel with 3 to 10 
flowers, delicately formed in all the parts; stalk Min. to /sm. long, stalklets / 4 in., 
both very slender; lid of bud in typical form remarkable for having a rounded 
base equal in diameter to the calyx-tube (immature seed-cup) and then suddenly 
contracting into a pointed apex somewhat like the beak of a small bird, m other 
forms more like an acute cone; anthers with longitudinal and nearly parallel 
openings. The specific name rostrata means beak-like and was appropriately 
suggested by the shape of the bud. The ripe seed-cup is about Min. in lateral 
diameter, hemispherical, with rising convex rim; the valves while closed foimmg 
a low dome within the rim, and when open protruding beyond it. 
The mature wood of E. rostrata is of a rich red colour. It is close in the 
grain and very heavy, but fissile and easily worked by either saw or plane. 
Selected specimens have been carved into beautiful designs. In resistance to decay 
the mature wood of this red gum belongs to a grade scarcely inferior to the best 
ironbark. For long years it has maintained a first-class reputation amongst 
railway engineers, and is still in keen demand for sleepers and bridge work. 
Under skilled forestry the species is now producing long straight poles of great 
durability for carrying electric wires. For high commendation of this beautiful 
timber see Hardwoods of Australia by R. T. Baker, page 241. 
i 
CULTIVATION IN NEW ZEALAND. 
E. rostrata has grown to a millable size on the Auckland Isthmus, in the 
Waikato near Cambridge, and in Hawke’s Bay. These and numerous other 
examples show great capacity in the species for acclimatization. Planted at low 
altitudes in the vicinity of streams and rivers or on moist but well drained flats, 
the species will flourish in all provinces of the North Island, and even extend its 
