(H.D. & J.H.M., Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1899, p. 451, t. XXXIX.)

Grey Box

Systematic. - A tree of 80 to 100 feet and diameter of 2 to 4 feet. Bark very much resembles that of ordinary "Box," E. hemiphloia, in general appearance, but is more fuzzy and softer than the latter. The branches have smooth tips. Abnormal leaves narrow-lanceolate, cordate and clasping at the base, strictly opposite, markedly paler on the under surface. The early stems are brown (commonly chocolate-brown), and usually square in section and winged. Normal leaves (branchlets angular), lanceolate or narrow-lanceolate, slightly falcate, usually 4 to 6 inches long, scarcely paler on the under surface; venation conspicuous on both sides, the intramarginal vein conspicuously removed from the edge, the lateral veins spreading. Umbels axillary, consisting usually of four to eight sessile flowers in the head; the common stalk being broadish and strongly compressed. The calyces sub-conical and exceeding the operculum, which is conoid, the calyces sometimes angular.

Fruit. - Small, shining, bell-shaped; rim medium; valves slightly exserted, and usually three in number; about 2 lines long and 2 lines broad.

Somewhat resembles those of E. camphora, but not quite so turbinate, and the valves are more exserted and pointed than obtains in that species.

Habitat. - This species has a very limited range, so far as is known at present, having been found only in the neighbourhood of Hill Top, about 70 miles south of Sydney; Milton, and Mittagong, New South Wales.

REMARKS. - The sessile fruits and abnormal leaves, as well as the timber and bark, differentiate this species from E. Bridgesiana, R.T.B., and E. Bosisloana, F.v.M., and E. conioa, D. & M., its nearest affinities. The timber is pale-coloured, hard, and one of the best "White Box" timbers of New South Wales. Unfortunately, as stated above, its distribution is limited.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were obtained from Milton, New South Wales, in February, 1900. The yield of oil was 0.68 per cent. The crude oil was reddish-brown in colour, and had an odour resembling those belonging to the cineol-pinene class of Eucalyptus oils generally. The oil of this species may be considered to consist very largely of dextro-rotatory pinene and cineol. Phellandrene was not present, and the esters small in amount. The sesquiterpene was not at all pronounced.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.9064; rotation aD + 10.70; refractive index at 200 = 1.4625, and was soluble in 2 volumes 70 per cent. alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4.9.

On rectification 2 per cent. distilled below 1620 C. (corr.). Between 162-1830, 91 percent, distilled; and between 183-1980, 3 per cent. distilled. These fractions gave the following results: -

The cineol, determined in the large traction by the phosphoric acid method, was 35 per cent., indicating about 32 per cent. in the crude oil (O.M.).

The comparative absence of high boiling constituents in the oil of this species is exceptionable for those of this class.

The above sample of oil 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, except that the cineol had evidently increased in amount. The crude oil and the fraction gave the following results: -

The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method and calculated for the crude oil; the result was 69 per cent. By the rapid phosphoric acid method it was 54 per cent., when calculated for the crude oil. Terpineol was detected in the rectified portion.