The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ This is a very elegant species of Eucalyptus, it only sheds the bark on the Upper Branches. It attains a considerable size and the timber is considered to be very durable, it is dark colored, and v...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 67.01.00d

Plant names

Eucalyptus
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Preferred Citation:

Edward Bowman to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1867-01-10 [67.01.00d]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1860-9/1867/67-01-10d-final.odt>, accessed July 21, 2026

MS found with a specimen of raveritiana (MEL 1614139).

This is a very elegant species of , it only sheds the bark on the Upper Branches. It attains a considerable size and the timber is considered to be very durable, it is dark colored, and very hard, it has been used for piles on the Great Northern Railway, and answers the purpose admirably, the wood not splitting but resisting the heaviest blows of the monkey. The flowers are produced in large quantities, and from the dark and shining leaves have a very good effect. It flowers very small say at from 10 to 14 feet high, it would look well amongst other trees and shrubs in cultivation. It is never found away from the immediate margin of Rivers or water courses, it is comonly known as the ' Grey gum " or " Iron Gum ", it does not appear to extend far inland. The large trees when cut into with an axe frequently exude a large quantity of a slightly acid, and almost colourless fluid, which is by no means disagreable to drink, I have seen a fully three gallons come from a large tree, the fluid is not contained in hollows but flows from the solid wood

Edward M. Bowman

Neerkool Creek

i.e. Neerkol Creek, Qld.

Jan 10 67.