ITfr
E u c a ly p t u s h s em a s tom a , Smith.
One of the White Gumtrees of New Soutli Wales and Southern
Queensland, abundant in many localities. This species attains a
very considerable size, but furnishes fencing and rough building
material only and fuel of inferior quality [Rev. Dr. Woolls], yet it
claims our attention particularly as fit for culture on sandy land, for
which purpose very few other Eucalypts are suited, tlius affording
shelter and aiding salubrity. A variety occurs with persistent
stringy bark. Dr. Bancroft finds the yield of kino from the stem
aud that of oil from the foliage considerable, and the oil of an agreeable
odor. Mr. Maiden determined the tannin in this kino to be
about 54 per cent. ; the kino is soluble as well in water as in
alcohol.
E u c a ly p t u s h em ip h lo ia , F. v. Mueller.*
South-Eastern Australia, particularly inland. A tree, reaching
90 feet in lieight and 4 feet in stem-diameter. Trunk generally not
tall ; occasionally however up to 50 feet. Regarded as a timber-tree
of great excellence. I t is famous for the hardness and toughness of
its timber, which is used for railway-sleepers, telegraph-poles, shafts,
spokes, mauls, plough-beams and similar utensils ; also excellent for
fuel. This passes a t its places of growth as a “ Boxtree ” and a
variety of it as “ W hite Boxtree.” The oil of the foliage contains
much Cymiu-Aldehyde, also much Cineol [Schimmel].
E u c a ly p t u s H o w i t t i a n a , F. v. Mueller.*
Littoral North-Queensland. A tree, gaining a height of fully
100 feet, with remarkably umbrageous foliage ; girth of stem towards
the base to fully 12 feet. Wood comparable to th a t of the so-called
“ Boxtrees,” but straighter in grain. This species would bo particularly
adapted for intra-tropical countries.
E u c a ly p t u s i n c r a s s a t a , Labillardiiire.
From Eastern to Western Australia, in the sterile interior. One
of the Mallee-trees, oftener a tall shrub than arborescent. I t will
live in mere sand and brave the most scorching hot winds, but will
also bear some frost. The leaves supply a considerable proportion
of the mercantile Eucalyptus oil.
E u c a ly p t u s la rg if lo r e n s , F. v. Mueller.
South-Eastern Australia, principally in the inland districts. Likes
humid depressions. The “ Gohorro ” of the aborigines, according to
the Rev. Dr. Woolls. One of the so-called Boxtrees, rising to a
height of 120 feet as a maximum. Stem-diameter to 3 feet. Wood
dark brown-red, excessively hard ; fence-posts from this wood w'eie
found quite sound after 30 years ; the tissue of the wood much
interlocked in its particles, excellent for naves, felloes and mauls
[Walter Gill]. Bees are particularly fond of the blossoms of this
tree, and the honey gained therefrom is clear and well tasted [Miss
S. J . McLean].
E u c a ly p tu s le p to p h l e b a , F. v. Mueller.
Queensland. Height rarely over 60 f e e t; stem-diameter to 3 feet.
Timber strong, hard, very durable and variously applied, thus : for
bridge-structures, mine-props and fence-posts ; near y always stipulated
in contracts, at places of growth, for buildings [Stephen Jo h n son].
One of the most eligible species for intra-tropic culture.
Allied to E. crebra.
Eucalyptus Leucoxylon, F. v. Mueller.*
The ordinary Ironbark-tree of Victoria and some parts of South-
Australia and New South Wales. I t attains a height of 100 feet,
aud supplies a most valuable timber ; this shows great strength and
hardness, is much prized for its durability, is largely employed by
waggon-builders for wheels and poles, by ship-builders for top-sides,
tree-nails, the rudder (stock), belaying pins and other purposes ; it is
also used by turners for rough wmrk ; it proved to be the strongest
of all the woods hitherto subjected to test by Mr. Luehmann and myself,
hearing nearly twice the strain of American oak and ash, and
excelling even hickory by about 18 per cent. I t is much recommended
for railway-sleepers, and extensively used in underground mining
work. The Railway-Commissioners of Victoria recently reported
sleepers, laid 24 years ago, still quite sound. I t is likewise very extensively
employed for the handles of axes and other implements by
Victorian manufacturers ; also for stockwhip-handles and policemen’s
batons. The price of the timber in the log is about 2s. 6d. per cubic
foot in Melbourne ; the weight of such, when completely dried, varying
from 63|^ to 681 lbs., equal to specific gravity 1-024—1’106 [P . v.
Mueller and Rummel]. As it is for some purposes superior to th a t of
almost any other Eucalyptus, the regular culture of this tree over
wide areas should he fostered, especially as it can be raised on stony
ridges not readily available for ordinary husbandry. The wood is
sometimes pale, in other localities rather dark. The tree is generally
restricted to the lower Silurian sandstone- and slate-formation with
ironstone and quartz. Nevertheless, it accommodates itself to various
geologic formations, thus even to limestone-ground. The hark is
remarkably rich in kino-tannin, yielding as much as 22 per cent, in
the fresh state, but much less after d ry in g ; the fresh leaves
contain about 5 per cent, and the dried leaves 9 to 10 per cent.
This kino-tannin is not equal in value to mimosa-tannic acid from
Acaoia-bark, but it is useful as a subsidiary admixture, when light-
coloured leather is not aimed at. Mr. Maiden found it to contain
42 per cent, tannin. As an astringent drug this kino is not without
importance. Wood-bricks from the timber of this tree should prove
partioularly lasting. All wood-paving diminishes dust very much.
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