eucalypt

n.

shortened English form of Eucalyptus used especially in the plural, Eucalypts.Eucalypti sounds pedantic.

1880. T. W. Nutt, `Palace of Industry,' p. 11:

«Stems of the soaring eucalypts that rise

Four hundred friendly feet to glad the skies.»

1887. J. F. Hogan, `The Irish in Australia,' p. 126:

«There is no unmixed good, it is said, on this mundane sphere,and the evil that has accompanied the extensive settlement ofGipps Land during recent years is to be found in the widespreaddestruction of the forests, resulting in a disturbance of theatmospheric conditions and the banishment of an ever-activeagent in the preservation of health, for these eucalypts, orgum-trees, as they are generally called, possess the peculiarproperty of arresting fever-germs and poisonous exhalations.They have been transplanted for this especial purpose to someof the malaria-infested districts of Europe and America, andwith pronounced success. Australia, to which they areindigenous, has mercilessly hewn them down in the past, but isnow repenting of its folly in that respect, and is replantingthem at every seasonable opportunity.»

1892. A. Sutherland, `Elementary Geography of BritishColonies,' p. 270:

«Throughout the whole of Australia the prevailing trees areeucalypts, known generally as gum-trees on account of the gumwhich they secrete, and which may be seen standing like bigtranslucent beads on their trunks and branches.»