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Acacia decurrens
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Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Ware, 1874-04-03. 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/74-04-03>, accessed September 11, 2025
Melbourne
3/4/74.
Sir
In compliance with the request of the honorable the Chief Secretary, as conveyed in
your letter of the March,
I have the honor of transmitting herewith a copy of my former report on Eucalyptus
Globulus.
1
Space for date left blank. See T. Ware to M, 24 March 1874.
2
The report appears not to have been published when originally written, but the text
of the report given below is published, with very minor differences, in B75.13.06.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller
Th Ware Esqr. &c
Acting Undersecretary
Eucalyptus globulus
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the genuine Blue Gum-tree.
This important and now widely celebrated tree was discovered in 1792 by the naturalist
La Billardiére during Admiral d'Entrecasteaux's expedition, sent out in search of
the ships Astrolabe and Boussole, lost under the command of Count La Pérouse. La Billardiére
found the tree on the bay, at which subsequently the city of Hobarton arose, while
the survey of this great inlet, commenced by Tasman, was continued by d'Entrecasteaux.
The genus Eucalyptus having been established on the ordinary Stringy-bark tree (E.
obliqua) by l'Heritier (plantae rariores, quae in hortis juxta Londinum excoluntur)
in 1788, from specimens gathered by Nelson in 1773 at Adventure Bay of Tasmania during
Cook's third voyage, — La Billardiére, in placing his tree in that genus, gave the
somewhat curious specific name "globulus" to this new Eucalyptus, and furnished in
1799 a short descriptive note of it, accompanied by a drawing, in his "relation du
voyage à la recherche de Lapérouse,"
of which work two English editions were soon subsequently issued. Of brief diagnosis
of the tree also by La Billardiére occurred in the second volume of his "Novae Hollandiae
plantarum specimen" in 1806;
short descriptive notes were published by Sprengel in 1825 (systema vegetabilium
vol II)
by De Candolle in 1828 (prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis vol III),
and by Don in 1832 (history of dichlamydeous plants vol II)
; but a fuller description of the tree occurred about 1860 in the first volume of
J. Hooker's Flora Tasmanica
and a still more extended phytographic account appeared in the second volume of my
"Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae" also in 1860,
while about the same time a lithogram with ample analytic details of this species
was issued in my "plants of Victoria".
In 1866 a full English description was inserted into the third volume of the Flora
Australiensis, issued by Mr. G. Bentham and myself.
3
L'Heritier Brutelle (1788), fasc. 3, p. 11, t. 20.
4
Labillardière (1800), vol. 1, p. 153, t. 13.
5
Labillardière (1804-6), vol. 2, p. 121.
6
Linnaeus (1825-8), vol. 2, p. 500.
7
A. P. de Candolle (1828), p. 220.
8
G. Don (1831-8), vol. 2, p. 820.
9
J. Hooker (1855-60), vol. 1, p. 133.
10
B60.05.01, pp. 68-70.
11
B65.02.06, supplementary plate XVI.
12
Bentham (1863-78), vol. 3, p. 225.
The geographic limits of
according to my personal travels extend from the ranges about Cape Otway to East
Gippsland and the bases of the Australian Alps, and northward into New South Wales
as far as the Hume River district; it occurs also in various parts of Tasmania, particularly
in the southern and south-eastern portion of that island; and it is furthermore found
on various isles of Bass' Straits.
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Although generally occupying forest-valleys sometimes gregariously, sometimes sparsely,
it may be noticed also occasionally in open places, for instance, at the You Yangs
and on the islands of Western Port. Trees grown in deep forest-glens not rarely attain
300 feet in height and sometimes rise even still higher; in less favorable localities
the height is proportionately less, and on the storm-beaten declivities of Wilson's
Promontory I have seen this species profusely flowering though dwarfed to the size
of a shrub. It belongs to the technical section Leiophloiae of the genus, embracing
the smooth-barked species, as defined by me in the third volume of the proceedings
of the Linnean Society of London in 1859.
13
B58.11.01, see p. 99.
The marvellous rapidity of growth of this tree among evergreen and hard wooded kinds
(equalling or even excelling the rate of growth of a poplar or a willow) combined
with the enormous size of the tree, could not fail to attract early attention, as
well in Tasmania as in Victoria, to which two colonies the
is naturally almost confined. Among the first, who planted it extensively in Victoria
was the late General Sir Edward Macarthur; this was fully 20 years ago, and some plantations
in Tasmania were formed still earlier. Having had myself an opportunity as far back
as 1852 & 1853 to watch our Blue-Gum-trees in the forests of Mount Macedon, Dandenong,
Mount Buller, the Buffalo Ranges and in many parts of Gippsland, and having also seen
with what facility they could be raised by sowings of seeds obtained then for the
Melbourne Botanic Garden, and having also noticed the resistance of the tree to drought,
with others I recognized the importance of this valuable gift to us by nature for
transferring it in masses to woodless countries in warm temperate climes.
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My friend, Monsieur Prosper Ramel, on returning in 1859 from here to France, most
enthusiastically and perseveringly advocated the introduction of
into his country and the Algerian colony, and for a series of years he was by every
means in my power seconded in his efforts, to give thus timber and fuel to many almost
woodless districts at the mediterranean sea, while I endeavoured to find appreciation
for the
in Upper India, South Africa, the La Plata States, Chili, California, Virginia and
some bare plateaux of Brazil. A gradually increasing demand for seeds arose, and it
is no exaggeration when I affirm, that seed-merchants and seed collectors have exported
hitherto to the value of £10,000 of seeds of our Blue Gum trees, not to speak of the
seeds of other Eucalypts; the rate of export is still increasing, a large quantity
having been demanded also for New Zealand since a series of years. The current price
of sifted seeds of
is now about 15/ per lb.
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Eucalyptus globulus
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Eucalyptus globulus
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The seed is raised with great ease in nursery beds; the seedlings are transplanted
after a few months, either at once to permanent positions, or moved for a few months
more into new nurseries. The final transplanting should take place at the commencement
of the cool season. The use of Heyer's bore-spade is advantageous in this operation.
14
The use of the spade is described in 'A new garden tool', Hamilton spectator (Hamilton, Vic.), 22 July 1871, Supplement, p. 1, which reports that the spade was developed by 'Dr. Heyer, one of the leading Professors of Forestry in Germany',
around the 1820s.
Among nearly 150 species of Eucalyptus known to exist in Australia the
is chiefly recognized by the quadrangular stem and the clasping broad opposite and
ashy-blue leaves of the young plants, by the sessile often solitary flowers, covered
with a crown-shaped somewhat chalky lid, and by the peculiar shape and comparatively
large size of its fruit-capsules. All further characteristics are clearly set forth
in the works already quoted. The vernacular appellation Blue Gum tree is an ambiguous
one, in as much as in New South Wales and South Queensland several other species occur
under the name of Blue Gum trees (Euc. eugenioides, E. haemastoma, E. botryoides,
E. tereticornis), while in some parts of our own colony a very different tree namely
my E. goniocalyx passes under the same popular appellation, and while in West Australia
my Euc. diversicolor and E. megacarpa are called Blue Gum trees.
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The natural growth of the Eucalypts is often very close in the forests, sometimes
from 20 to 40 large trees occur on an acre; but in proportion to their closeness they
are also more slender. This shows however how large a yield of timber might thus be
obtained from forest areas, either natural or artificial, if carefully worked. In
our own western basaltic plains and undulations, which are extensively destitute of
timber, enlightened settlers, in forming areas of trees, have predominantly and very
successfully chosen the E. globulus for this purpose. In reference to the celerity
of growth of this tree under very favorable circumstances we are made aware of some
astounding data. So I was informed by Mr. Brace, that in the Neilgherries
of the Madras Presidency his young trees had attained the height of from 20 to 25
feet in 18 months from the time, when I despatched the seeds; and I have similar records
from the Argentine Republic. Even in the comparatively cool clime of Hyéres in France
the height attained in eight years was 55 feet. In rich deep soil the same results
may here be obtained. The Euc. globulus is not absolutely bound to any geologic formation;
but it has a predilection in culture for friable soil of fair quality, and dislikes
much stagnant water in the soil, also avoids pure sand and saline ground. Young plants
while yet succulent are apt to be attacked by a species of coccus, also by caterpillars
of various kinds. In Senegambia, while the locusts destroyed the bark of nearly all
other trees, they left the Eucalyptus untouched.
15
Nilgheri Hills. Edward Brace; letter not found.
Turning briefly to some of the products, obtainable from
, the volatile oil directly yielded by distillation from the foliage, may first be
mentioned. The yield is from ⅔ to 1 percent; hence this Eucalyptus is thus far outrivalled
by several species, for instance E. amygdalina, E oleosa and some others. The oil
of Eucalyptus was brought by me before the first Paris exhibition in 1855, with the
view of its adoption in medicine, its resemblance to the Indian oil of Cajput having
then become to me very obvious. Mr. Jos. Bosisto of Richmond prepared the oil on that
occasion for me and the same Gentleman and Mr. W. Johnson of St. Kilda furnished a
whole series of oils from materials supplied by myself on the occasion of the Melbourne
exhibition of 1862 and the London exhibition of 1863. Again in 1866 for the intercolonial
exhibition and in 1867 for the second Paris exhibition the Eucalyptus oil was produced
in a laboratory then recently established in my department, and its qualities carefully
investigated on suggestions of myself by Mr. J. Osborne, the discoverer of photo-lithography.
Mr. Jos. Bosisto also carried on then extensive tests of the qualities of the oil,
and he has the credit of having pushed it into mercantile trade and extensive technologic
application, after the value of the oil as an admixture to precious cosmetics in the
manufacture of scented soaps and its great utility as a solvent of select resins for
superior varnishes had been recognized, partly by himself partly by other investigators.
The remarkable fact was then demonstrated of this oil dissolving subterranean Kauri
and Amber. 100 parts of the oil of
are saturated with 14 parts of Camphor, 12 parts of Mastic, 7 parts of Janderac 8
parts of Kauri resin, 6 parts of Asphalt. It mixes in all proportions with oil of
turpentine, all fat and drying oils, benzole, naphtha, ether and pure alcohol. Its
specific weight is 0.917. It boils at from 338 - 347° F., passing off Eucalyptol,
first prepared by Dr. Cloëz of Paris, who found for this the chemical formula C24H20O2. The remaining volatile oil boils between 370 and 374° F. Mr. Cloëz obtained from
Eucalyptol by application of phosphoric acid the new Eucalyptene and Eucalyptolene.
Eucalyptus oil can be used for giving light quite like Kerosene, the best of which
it surpasses by its more pleasant odor. In burning it leaves no smoke and does not
explode. The trade in Eucalyptus oil, hitherto exported solely from Victoria, as a
new resource of the colony represents by this time several or perhaps many thousand
pounds, and the demand in the European and American markets will be likely increasing.
It is most cheaply driven off from the leaves by steam vapor.
Eucalyptus globulus
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But this is not the only oil obtainable from the Blue Gum tree. In my laboratory I
caused tar to be prepared from Blue Gum wood by Mr. Rummel, and this tar subjected
to analysis to trace its component parts. The pitch obtained was excellent and can
be dissolved for varnishes and be used in other ways technologically. The tar itself,
which can be produced cheaply by thousands of tons from waste wood, now lost, will
doubtless ere long become an article of export when the supply of wood tar from North
Europe and North America fails. The process of its production presents no difficulty,
involves no large outlay and requires no trained knowledge of any extent. Dyes of
various kinds could likely be obtained from the Eucalyptus tar, but my intended investigations
in this direction could with the withdrawal of the necessary working votes and the
laboratory not be carried out.
The bark of
contains about 4 percent of tannic acid, and although this is several times less
than the yield of wattle bark (from
and
) the copiousness of the supply of Eucalyptus bark will cause it to be utilized even
for this purpose. Samples of packing and printing paper were made in my laboratory
in 1865 by my order from the bark, also paste-boards. The yield of tannin from the
leaves is sufficiently great to induce Count de Marafy to recommend them as a substitute
for Sumach.
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Acacia decurrens
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Acacia pycnantha
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16
Cited by M in the bibliography for
in B80.13.14, Decade 6, as 'Maillard de Marafy, Comte, L'Eucalyptus, nouvel emploi industriel, 1870'. This is probably an article in Egypte agricole, no. 1 (see Bulletin de la Société d'acclimatation, series 2, vol. 9 (1872), p. 114).
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The sawdust at mills from the wood can be converted into a paste for the admixture
to the material for the coarser kinds of paper. By simple chemical processes it can
also be made to yield alcohol, and by other means oxalic acid and several other substances.
The gum-resin exuding in a fluid state from the stems of
or lodged in a solid state in fissures and cavities of the wood is rich in tannic
acid, and can be used in medicine like Kino; indeed it has long since been drawn thus
far into use, particularly in chronic diarrhoea.
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The yield of potash from E. globulus is also not unimportant. The fresh foliage, branches,
and bark taken together at a weight of one ton give about 8½ lbs. of pure potash;
so far as my experiments hitherto have shown. The yield from the wood, as is usual
with other trees, proves less. According to soil age and other circumstances the percentage
fluctuates. The method of obtaining potash from the wood ashes by maceration and inspissation
is of the simplest kind and fully explained in my lecture on forest culture & forest
industries.
The
seems destined to sustain itself in many various climes, because it is not destructively
affected by mild frosts, so long as these are not of lengthened duration, though the
plant is more susceptible to frost in a young state than when the stem has become
hardened. A vigorous tree will stand a temperature occasionally as low as 18° Fahr.,
particularly if the position is not exposed.
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Since some years past E. globulus has attracted great attention in respect to hygienic
action, not only for the sake of its therapeutic principles, but also as affording
the means of meliorating the clime of fever-regions. When planted in masses on malarian
swamps very beneficial effects from Eucalypts seem to have arisen, which may be attributed
to a threefold action, namely the drying of swampy ground, through the enormous power
of absorption and respiration possessed by Eucalypts in a much higher degree than
most other trees (as explained in my lecture on forest conservation and wood industries
printed nearly three years ago), secondly the diffusion of antimiasmatic vapour of
the volatile Eucalyptus oil through the air; thirdly the antiseptic action of the
dropping Eucalyptus leaves on other vegetable and also animal substances decaying
on the ground, or contained in water near it.
First Dr. Tristany in Madrid,
then M. Malingre in Sevilla,
Dr. Ahumada, M. Rénard,
Professor Guebler
in Paris, Dr. Marés in Algiers, Dr. Carlotti of Ajaccio, Dr. Tedeschi in Corte,
Dr. Gimbert of Cannes,
Dr. Miergues of Bouffarü,
Dr. Brunel in Montevideo,
Dr. Cosson of Paris,
have brought the therapeutic value of Eucalyptus leaves as febrifuges into practical
medical notice.
17
José Tristany: results reported in Texidor (1865), p. 189.
18
Gubler (1871), p. 153, cites a letter from Malingre to the French Société Impériale
Zoologique d'Acclimatation. That letter is reported to have been read at the meeting
of the Society held on 13 December 1867, when it was 'renvoyé à la Commission médicale'
[referred to the Medical Commission], (Bulletin de la Société Impériale Zoologique
d'Acclimatation, ser. 2, vol. 4, 1867, p. 757). The letter has not been found.
19
Gubler (1871), p. 154, quotes Ahumada on the efficacy of an infusion of Eucalyptus
leaves in treating fever, and also reports Renard as agreeing with the febrifuge properties
of Eucalyptus. Ahumada is described as 'directeur du haras d'Aranjuez' [director of
the Aranjuez stud], i.e. Real Yeguada de Aranjuez, but no further details of his life
have been found.
20
Gubler (1871).
21
Carlotti (1869). Gubler (1871), p. 154, cites this work as 'présenté à la Société
d'agriculture d'Alger, 1869', but it was published in Ajaccio, Corsica. As in his
text Gubler notes that Carlotti was from Ajaccio, his footnote giving Algiers as the
place of presentation may have been a mistake. Carlotti, p. 18, quotes a passage from
a letter from Tedeschi to him describing those who doubt the efficacy of Eucalyptus as disciples of St Thomas, a passage quoted by Gubler, p. 154.
22
Gimbert (1870), chapters 5 to 9, including physiological and toxicological experiments
on animals.
23
Miergues: Gubler (1871), p. 148 cites La science pour tous, 15 January 1870, but the source has not been found.
24
Brunel (1872).
25
Cosson (1875) contains a brief note on the therapeutic value of E. globulus, but unless M had seen a prepublication version of the note, this may not have been
the item to which he refers.
The aqueous or vineous infusion, retaining the volatile oil, seems the best form of
administration, as the leaves contain no alkaloids and therefore the medicinal properties
must rest on the better extractive principle, some resin, the essential oil and perhaps
the tannic acid, of the leaves. The leaves can also be administered in the form of
powder. In many cases simply the Eucalyptol has been used for various medical purposes.
It is particularly in intermittent fevers, in which the Eucalyptus medicines have
been administered, and particularly in such cases in which the unsuccessful use of
Quinine indicated the trial of some of the various other known febrifugal remedies
and among these now, according to the testimony of several physicians in various parts
of the globe, Eucalyptus takes a high rank. The treatment with Eucalyptus has overcome in many cases long standing febrile affections.
Special physiologic and therapeutic experiments, made by Dr. Claude Bernard, Professor
Robin and Dr. Vulpian, have shown that the Eucalyptol diminishes the spinal reflex
action, lessens organic combustion and also respiration, facilitates the elimination
of urea, stimulates the sympathetic nerves and the capillary circulation, and is eliminated
again by the lungs and bladder.
26
Sources for these statements have not been identified.
Dr. Gimbert recommends the use of Eucalyptol in asthma,
against which disease also Monsieur Ramel's patented cigarrettes of Eucalyptus leaves
have come into much use;
further to assuage the cough in various pulmonary affections and convulsions and
spasms generally; thus also a new efficient remedy was found against hooping cough,
chorea, vesical catarrhs, uraemia, fevers of all types, dyspepsia, chronic rheumatism
and gout and even against entozoa. In cholera, the inclination to vomit is diminished
by this remedy and the infusoria are destroyed. Against inflammation of and probably
any fungus vegetation the mucous membranes generally it has proved most useful. Dr.
Gimbert finds the Eucalyptol as an antiseptic most advantageously applicable as an
external remedy in putrid suppurations. Injected into the veins of an animal it retards
the decomposition of the cadaver for a long time, differing in this respect from the
oil of turpentine, which exercises only a passing preservative effect. The coagulated
blood of rabbits was preserved for three months after an injection of Eucalyptol without
perceptible alteration; the tissues dried up and exhaled the odour of Eucalypts.
27
Gimbert (1873).
28
See patent application, in this edition as 66-03-24e; P. Ramel to M, 29 November 1869, and George (2012). Gubler (1871), p. 208, noted this use but in the absence of experimental
evidence wondered whether the irritating effect of the smoke and
empyreumatic products would not produce greater damage than the relief attrubutable
to the unburnt eucalytus oils.
We possess thus in the Eucalyptol an antiseptic as powerful in its effect, though
perhaps appliable in larger quantity, and one less dangerous, as carbolic acid. In
this colony many of these observations of Spanish and French physicians have been
verified, and I may add that the distilled oil of Eucalyptus leaves has proved here
the most quickly acting remedy for healing the sores of horses. Dr. Brunel in Montevideo
had patients coming from Brazil and West Africa, to obtain relief from fever by the
Eucalyptus treatment, and has published a treatise on his clinical observations respecting
the use of this plant.
Eucalyptol cannot however surpass in all cases the quinine.
29
See above, n. 23.
The industrial value of the timber of
is multifarious; in the woodwork of buildings, for planks, railway sleepers (lasting
a dozen of years and more, if cut at the right time and well seasoned) for shafts,
spokes etc. Ships' keels of lengths of as much as 120 feet have been obtained from it. Blue Gum
tree wood has been shown in some instances to carry 14 lbs weight more than English
Oak and 17 lbs more than Indian Teak on the square inch. For many other observations
on the uses of the Blue Gum tree timber reference may be had to the successive exhibition
volumes issued here since 1854, as a detailed explanation of all its uses would be
beyond the scope of this brief document.
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30
See, for example, B67.13.03.
From researches instituted by Mr. C. Hoffmann under my order the wood of the Blue
Gum tree when heated with exclusion of air, is converted into about 29 percent charcoal,
46 percent crude wood vinegar with wood spirit, 6 percent tar and 19 percent of gases.
These proportions are however not absolute, as they depend on the nature of the particular
quality and age of the wood, and on the degree of heat adopted; for it was ascertained
in the progress of similar enquiries by Mr. Rummel in my laboratory, that with at
once increased heat a larger volume of light-gas is evolved, at the expense of the
other products, a discovery which promises to lead to extensive application of wood
instead of coal in any gasworks.
Samples of the tar, vinegar, pure acetic acid, alcohol, coal, the volatile oils, pitch,
paper of various kinds, potash, as well as various products obtained by utilizing
for instance the acetic acid for dye material, the alcohol and oils for varnishes,
etc. were shown in former exhibitions, and a large series of products of this kind
is rendered accessible by me for inspection in the Industrial Museum in Melbourne.
The last work in my laboratory has been to separate the constituent parts of the Eucalyptus
tar, which gave several distinct oils, each of a particular boiling point and special
specific gravity, and all readily available as distinct solvents for various technologic
uses.
Important memoirs on the
and other species of that almost exclusively Australian genus have appeared in the
journals of various nations, but nowhere has the value of these trees been more carefully
observed and tested than in France, and among those who have recorded the observations
most extensively stand foremost there Monsieur Prosper Ramel, Dr. Raveret-Wattel and
M. Ernest Lambert.
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31
See, for example, Ramel (1861), reprinted as Ramel (1870); Raveret-Wattel (1871);
E. Lambert (1873).