(H.D. & J.H.M., in Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1895, p. 541, t. XLIII.) Grey Gum of the North Coast N.S.W.

Systematic. - A large, straight growing tree, found up to 4 or 5 feet in diameter, and 120 feet and more in height. The bark is grey, dirty-looking, and peels off in large, longitudinal, irregular patches, leaving a smooth, white surface. The bark closely resembles, and is, perhaps, not to be distinguished from that of E. punctata. Abnormal leaves more broadly lanceolate, and with the marginal vein more distinct from the edge than in the case of normal leaves, at first opposite. Normal leaves narrow-lanceolate and very uniform, average length 4 to 5 inches, breadth J inch; venation not prominent, lateral veins nearly parallel, intramarginal vein on or very close to the edge of the leaf as a general rule. Peduncles flattened. Flowers pedicellate, usually in tens, but sometimes as few as five. Calyx tube hemispherical and longer than the operculum, which is hemispherical, but with a low pointed apex.

Fruit. - On angular pedicels about 2 lines long, hemispherical, small, occasionally slightly ribbed, very uniform in size; rim thick; valves exserted; about 2 1/2 lines broad by 1 1/2 lines deep.

The fruits, as regards the rim and general contour, considerably resemble those of the smaller forms of E. resinifera, E. maculosa, and perhaps E. dealbata.

Habitat. - Coast Districts of New South Wales.

REMARKS. - The affinities of E. propinqua are with E. saligna and E. punctata, contiguous species in Baron von Mueller's Census. A very distinct species and easily recognised by its small fruits and red timber, which is of excellent quality. The timber is dark coloured, and so closely resembling "Red Ironbark" (E. siderophloia) that care is required to distinguish the two timbers. Very durable in or out of the ground, but its tensile strength inferior to that of the "Ironbark" already referred to. - H.D. & J.H.M.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were collected at Woodburn, N.S.W., in August, 1900. The yield of oil was 0.24 per cent. The crude oil was red in colour, and had a turpentine-like odour. It contained no phellandrene,but pinene was present in some quantity; cineol occurs, but that constituent was not present in sufficient amount for the oil to be of commercial value, even if the yield had been higher. Aromadendral was detected in the higher boiling portion, and this constituent was also indicated by the lævo-rota-tion of the second fraction.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 15° C. = 0.8980; rotation aD + 4.4°; refractive index at 200 = 1.4731, and was soluble in 8 volumes 70 per cent, alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 8.4.

On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 1690 C. (corr.). This portion contained a predominance of volatile aldehydes, the odour of which was objectionable. Between 169-183°, 80 per cent, distilled; between 183-224°, 9 per cent. came over, and between 224-255°, 3 per cent. distilled. These fractions gave the following results: -

The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the first fraction, indicated 32 per cent, in the crude oil (O.M.).

This sample of oil had been kept in the dark, and in October, 1919, nineteen years afterwards, was again analysed. The oil had not altered much during that time, as shown by the following. 92 per cent, distilled below 190° C, commencing to distil at 167°. The crude oil and the large fraction gave the following results: -

The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method in the large traction, and calculated for the crude oil; the result was 48 per cent. By the phosphoric acid method it was 39 per cent., when calculated for the crude oil.