The Peppermint Tree.

Rare c.18th engraving of the first printed image of Eucalyptus piperita which was first collected by John White at Sydney Cove and described and published in London in 1789. James Edward Smith gave it the specific epithet piperita because its odour of its essential oil was so similar to that of Mentha piperita, the peppermint. The fruit illustrated on the left has been shown to be Eucalyptus capitellata.

Modern common name: Sydney peppermint and urn-fruited peppermint
Modern binomial name: Eucalyptus piperita
First described: Smith 1790
Distribution: NSW

From John White’s, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales

References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 97.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 1858.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995 ZBI 4390.
Abbey, J.R. Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860. London 1972 605.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 17.
Crittenden, V. A Bibliography Of The First Fleet. ACT 1982 248.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 87340
State Library New South Wales: Call Number: MRB/Q991/2A2
National Gallery Victoria: Accession Number2012.31
State Library Victoria: CCF 919.44 W58
National Museum of Australia: Object number 2007.0035.0001