(Sm., in Trans. Linn. Soc., iii, 285.) White or Scribbly Gum.

Systematic. - A medium-sized tree, having a white, smooth bark, almost invariably showing insect markings, similar to a "Scribble," hence the vernacular name. Branchlets quadrangular. Abnormal leaves variable, either ovate-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, with the venation scarcely discernible, about 4 inches long, or falcate-lanceolate, measuring 9 inches in some instances, and venation also faint. Normal leaves lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, variable in size, of a pale-green colour, shining, coriaceous; venation indistinct, lateral veins oblique, spreading, intramarginal vein removed from the edge. Flowers on flattened axillary peduncles about 1 inch long, six or more in the umbel; buds clavate; calyx tube about, 2 lines in diameter, tapering into a pedicel of about 2 to 3 lines long.

Fruit. - Pedicellate, hemispherical or pear-shaped, shining; rim thick, convex, red-coloured; valves sunk; up to 5 lines in diameter.

These fruits present no difficulty in determination, the red rim and shining sides readily identify them. They very closely resemble E. vitrea. The fruits, however, vary in size and when small are known as var. micrantha, Syn. E. micrantha, DC.

Habitat. - Sydney, Gosford, Richmond River, Cooma, Blue Mountains, New South Wales; Tasmania; Victoria; Queensland.

131 Eucalyptus h mastoma 202

REMARKS. The Eucalyptus here designated is the one with the whitish bark, having "Scribbles" (insect markings) upon it. The timber is of a pinkish colour, and of little commercial value. It has comparatively large fruits and coriaceous leaves. The individual species synonymised in the past under E. hæmastoma will, no doubt, all be shown on a natural classification to be quite distinct, and the "Spotted Gum" has been proved worthy of specific rank under the name of E. maculosa, R.T.B., also the "Stringybark" variety of Mueller and Woolls is now E. Wilkinsoniana, R.T.B. De Candolle's species, E. micrantha, had been placed by Mueller as a variety of this Eucalyptus, with which we concur. The coarse, thick leaves, and larger fruits and flowers distinguish Smith's E. hæmastoma from E. Rossii. Baron von Mueller's figure of E. hæmastoma, in his "Eucalyptographia," faithfully depicts the species, which derives its specific appellation from the red rim of its fruits - a character, however, that occurs in several other species of Eucalypts.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were obtained from Barber's Creek, N.S.W., in June, 1898. The yield of oil was 0.28 per cent. The crude oil was of a red colour, had a terpene odour, and was somewhat viscous. A large amount of phellandrene was present in the first fraction, which also contained about 10 to 15 per cent, of cineol. The third fraction consisted largely of the liquid form of eudesmol and the sesquiterpene, more than half the oil distilling above 2450 C. It was to the presence of these constituents that the somewhat viscous nature of the oil was due. The peppermint constituent, piperitone, was not detected, nor did aromadendral appear to be present.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.9195; refractive index at 200 = 1.4955, and was insoluble in 10 volumes 80 per cent, alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 5.1; after acetylation it was 55.6, corresponding to 20.8 per cent, if calculated for a sesquiterpene alcohol.

On rectification, 1 per cent, distilled below 174° C. (corr.). Between 174-1930, 25 per cent, distilled; between 193-2450, 14 per cent. came over, and between 245-2830, 55 per cent. distilled. These fractions gave the following results: -

First fraction, sp. gr. at 150 C.

=

0.8728;

rotation aD

-

28.6°.

Second

"

"

"

=

0.8816;

"

-

20.4°.

Third

"

"

"

=

0.9417;

"

not taken.

A second distillation gave agreeing results, and on again fractionating the combined higher-boiling portions, only 5 per cent. came over below 2600 C.; between 260-2750, 68 per cent, distilled; this portion had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.943; and optical rotation aD - 0.8°. (See also the article dealing with the sesquiterpene in this work.)

Material of this species was also obtained from Gosford, N.S.W., in December, 1896. In appearance and constituents, this oil differed but little from the Barber's Creek sample, with the exception that pinene was a little more pronounced and the phellandrene correspondingly less; the amount of cineol was about the same as in the previous sample. 50 per cent. distilled between 255-280° C.; and this fraction also consisted principally of eudesmol and the sesquiterpene. The ester content was practically the same as in the oil from Barber's Creek.

Material of this species for distillation was received from Lawson, Blue Mountains, N.S.W., in September, 1919. The yield of oil was 0.65 per cent. In general characters and constituents, the oil differed but little from that distilled in 1898. The exception was that the eudesmol at this time was in the crystallised condition, while in the oil from the Barber's Creek trees it was in the liquid form.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 15° C. = 0.9065; rotation aD - 5.5°; refractive index at 20° = 1.4902, and was soluble in 1 volume 80 per cent. alcohol. The saponification number for the esters was 4.4, both by the hot and cold methods. After acetylation it was 86.6 by boiling, and 23.7 in the cold, with two hours' contact. This result represents 5.4 per cent. calculated as free geraniol, and 26 per cent, calculated as eudesmol. The eudesmol was purified, when it had melting point 79-80°, and specific rotation [a]D + 38.43°.

The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method in the portion boiling below 193°; when calculated for the crude oil the result was 9 per cent.

The predominance of phellandrene is seen from the rotation figures for the crude oil. Piperitone was not detected.