(Sp. nov.) Box.

Systematic. A medium-sized tree, with "Box" bark on the lower portions of the stem. Leaves lanceolate, but very variable in size, from broad lanceolate (2 inches broad and over 6 inches in length) to narrow lanceolate (2 lines broad and over 6 inches long), ovate, acuminate, under 4 inches long, dull or slightly shining, uniform green on both sides; venation distinct, lateral veins oblique, intramarginal vein removed from the edge, and especially so in the case of the broad lanceolate and ovate forms of the leaves. Peduncles axillary, 4 to 5 lines long, with six or more flowers in the umbel. Buds about 6 lines long, angular in the early stages. Calyx 1 1/2 lines in diameter at the time of flowering, hemispherical; operculum hemispherical, acuminate, 1 1/2 lines long.

Fruit. - Hemispherical to pyriform; rim flat or slightly countersunk; valves not exserted; under 3 lines in diameter.

The fruits are not much unlike those of F. melliodora or E. Bosistoana, with which species it has the most affinity.

Habitat. - Cabramatta, St. Marys, New South Wales.

89 Eucalyptus Nepeanensis 140

REMARKS. -Since the publication of the "Flora Australiensis," it has been usual to place this species and E. pendula (both of Cunningham) under Mueller's E. largiflorens. With such a classification we do not agrees as Cunningham's specific names apply to interior species, whilst this is a coastal tree, with a pale-coloured whitish timber, " Box " barked only on the lower portion of the stem, and with erect branches and branchlets. In our first edition it was placed and fully described under E. bicolor.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were obtained from St Marys, N.S.W., in November, 1900. The yield of oil was 0.52 per cent. The crude oil was amber-coloured, and had an odour resembling those of the cineol-pinene class of Eucalyptus oils. It was rich in cineol; pinene was present, but phellandrene was absent. The oil also contained rather a large amount of the sesquiterpene, so that the specific gravity was somewhat high. Crystallised eudesmol was not detected.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.9259; rotation aD + 1.1°; refractive index at 200 = 1.4677, and was soluble in 1 1/4 volumes 70 per cent., alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 3.6.

On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 1710 C. (corr.). Between 171-183°, 71 per cent. distilled; between 183-245°, 14 per cent. came over, and between 245-269°, 9 per cent. distilled. These fractions gave the following results: -

First fraction, sp. gr. at 15o

=

0.9197;

rotation aD

+

2.10o.

Second

"

"

"

=

0.9243;

"

not taken.

Third

"

"

"

=

0.9457;

"

"

The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the first fraction, was 70 per cent. (O.M.), indicating about 56 per cent. in the original oil.

The above sample had been stored in the dark., and in September, 1919, was again analysed. Not much alteration had taken place during the nineteen years it had been kept. 78 per cent, distilled below 1900 C. The crude oil and the redistilled portion gave the following results: -

Crude oil, sp. gr. at 15o C.

=

0.9276; rotation aD + 0.5 ; retractive index at 20° = 1.4682.

Rectified portion

"

=

0.9219; rotation aD + 1.8°; refractive index at 200 = 1.4606.

The cineol was determined by the resorciool method in the rectified portion and calculated for the crude oil; the result was 74 per cent. By the rapid phosphoric acid method it was 68 per cent. when calculated for the crude oil. Terpineol was detected in the rectified portion.