(R.T B., Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1900, p. 312, t. XVIII). Grey Mallee.

Systematic. - A "Mallee" of rather dense growth, or somewhat spreading; usually about 15 feet high, or somewhat higher; stems 2 to 3 inches in diameter; rarely growing to tree size of about 25 or 30 feet high, and 6 to 12 inches in diameter. Stems mostly hollow. Branchlets often flattened or quadrangular. Bark grey, somewhat fibrous, or on very old trees even furrowed, approaching that of an "Ironbark" Abnormal leaves petiolate, generally lanceolate in form, sometimes narrower and sometimes broader than the mature ones, opposite, or with a tendency to become so. Normal leaves lanceolate-acuminate, on petioles of about 1 inch long, occasionally falcate, about 6 inches long and up to 1 inch wide, not shining; venation spreading, very prominent on both sides, intramarginal vein removed from the edge. Peduncles axillary, not numerous, flattened and twisted, short, under 6 lines, mostly 3 to 4 lines long, bearing three to seven short pedicellate or sessile buds, mostly in threes. Calyx tube hemispherical, 3 lines in diameter; operculum obtuse, conical, 3 lines long..

Fruit. Hemispherical, shortly pedicellate; rim pyramidal, and sometimes twice the length of the calyx; valves well exserted; 3 to 4 lines in diameter.

No other species of fruits appear to have the facies of this one, and so presents no difficulty in identification.

Habitat. - Near Girilambone, on stony or rocky hills; thence on hills across country to Cobar; also near Coolabah, New South Wales.

REMARKS. -This species is a "Mallee" of the Northern interior of this State, where it is found associated with the Green Mallee," E viridis, R.T.B., and at times with E. oleosa, F.v.M. The bark is sometimes persistent right out to the branches, whilst on some trees it is smooth nearly half-way down. The persistent bark is rougher and more furrowed in the larger trees, making a slight approach to that of the "Ironbarks." It attains, not its greatest height, but certainly its greatest diameter, on the highest hills amongst the roughest and rockiest parts. Perhaps the most remarkable specific morphological character about it is the rim of the fruits. The word "domed " hardly expresses correctly this feature, for, merging into the valves at the top, it forms, as it were, a truncate cone, resting on the. hemispherical calyx. This conformation of the rim is noticeable as soon as the stamens begin to fall off, and from this stage until after its full development it gives the appearance to the fruit of a pathological affection or a monstrosity. The shape of the fruits, however, is constant throughout the extensive range of the species.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were obtained from Girilambone, N.S.W., in January, 1900. The yield of oil was 17 per cent. The crude oil was but slightly coloured, and had an odour resembling those belonging to the cineol-pimme class generally. The rectified oil was slightly tinged yellow, a character common to those of this group. The oil may be considered a good one for pharmaceutical purposes, although perhaps a little low in specific gravity in the spring and summer months, and as it contained a very small amount of high-boiling constituents, the greater portion (95 per cent.) distilled below 1880 C. Pinene was the principal terpene, and phellandrene was absent; in fact, the oil may be considered to consist very largely of pinene and cineol, and to be rich in the latter constituent. The esters were not pronounced.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.9097; rotation aD + 6.1o; refractive index at 200 = 1.4636, and was soluble in 1 1/2 volumes 70 per cent. alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 8.1.

On rectification, 5 per cent. distilled below 1670 C. (corr.). Between 167-1880, 90 per cent. distilled. The large fraction had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.9095; and rotation aD + 6.55°. The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the redistilled portion, and calculated for the crude oil, was 59 per cent. (O.M.).

Later a further consignment of material ror distillation was obtained from the same district, but from another locality; the oil was found to be practically identical in composition with the first sample, although the specific gravity was a little higher. The yield of oil was 1.6 per cent. The specific gravity of the crude oil= 0.9164; and the optical rotation aD + 3.76°. The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the crude oil, was 63 per cent. (O.M.). It is thus seen that during the greater portion of the year the oil from this species would more than meet the requirement for specific gravity as laid down in the British Pharmacopoeia.

The above samples were mixed together and stored in the dark, and in September, 1919, the oil was again analysed. 92 per cent, distilled below 1900 C. The crude oil and the fractionated portion gave the following results: -

The cineol was determined by the resorcmol method in the fractionated portion and calculated for the crude oil; the result was 80 per cent. By the rapid phosphoric acid method it was 64 per cent., when calculated for the original oil.