The Principal Species of Wood: Their Characteristic Properties: First EditionSnow, Charles H. (Charles Henry)
Science
The Principal Species of Wood: Their Characteristic Properties: First Edition
Snow, Charles H. (Charles Henry)
Wood
The Toon Cedar (Cedrela toona Roxburgh) of the Orient is the same as
the Red Cedar (_Cedrela australis F. v. M._) of Australia. The Cedar
(_Cedrela odorata Blanco_) is thought to be distinct Philippine
species.
"Forestry and Irrigation," p. 173, Vol. VIII, No. 4; Writings Dr.
Gifford; Correspondence Wm. E. Uptegrove & Brother, and others.
[Illustration: PLATE 26. EUCALYPTUS (_Eucalyptus_).
Blue Gum Tree (_E. globulus_) California.
Blue Gum Bark (_E. globulus_) California.
Jarrah Trunk, (_E. marginata_) Australia.
Jarrah Wood (_E. marginata_).
Karri Wood (_E. diversicolor_).]
EUCALYPTUS.
(_Eucalyptus_.)
These trees, locally known as Stringy-barks, Iron-barks, and
Gum-trees, are natives of Australia and the neighboring islands. Some
of the nearly four hundred species have been widely transplanted,
although none have thus far succeeded in this country outside of
Florida and California.[63] The Blue Gum (_E. globulus_) is the
species commonly referred to when Eucalyptus is mentioned in North
America.
The Eucalypts are noted for their great size, rapid growth, tough,
durable wood, and alleged effect upon health. Size is illustrated by
the species Eucalyptus amygdalina, specimens of which have reached
a height of four hundred and eighty feet and are thus the tallest,
although not the largest, trees known to man. Growth is shown by
specimens of the Eucalyptus gunnii, which have grown in excess of
two feet a month during the first year.[64] The working qualities of
Jarrah, Karri, and Tuart woods (_E. marginata_, _E. diversicolor_,
and _E. gomphocephala_) are such as to cause them to take high rank
in local construction. The first two have been preferred beyond all
other species for paving the streets of London and of Paris. Some
improvement in health is said to have followed the introduction of
the Blue Gum (_Eucalyptus globulus_) in malarial districts, such
as those around Rome. It is not certain whether these results are
due to the presence of essences in the foliage, although medicinal
properties are ascribed to them and they are used in the preparation
of listerine and similar compounds, or [p124] whether they are due
to the fact that the leaves evaporate unusual quantities of water
drawn by the roots from the soil.[65]
The trees are characterized by leathery evergreen foliage of many
shades, such as blue, gray, and green. The leaves of young and old
trees differ widely in some species. Those of young blue gums are
bright blue, oval, and stalkless, while leaves of older trees have
stems, are dark green and sickle-shaped. The characteristic odor is
the only point in common between the foliage of the old and young
of this species. There are, as stated, nearly four hundred species.
[p125]
FOOTNOTES
[Footnote 63: First introduced in 1856; 1,000,000 specimens thought
to be in California, 1874. A. Kinney, U. S. Forestry Bulletin No.
11.]
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