COMMON TREES IX EELATIOX TO AERIAL LIFE OF BEETLES. 31 



Family MELIACE.E. 



(2) Dysoxylon cerchriformc Bailey. 



A tall erect tree growing in second-growth scrub ; l)ark 

 rather smooth and light-coloured, the trunk with conspicuous 

 leaf-scars. Leaves compound, very long ; leaflets 7 to 9 or 

 more, large, up to 8 in. long by 3 in. w'ide. Flowers small, 

 in loose clusters, near the summit of the branchlets. Fruit 

 globular, 1^ in. long by 1-|- in. diameter. 



A common tree on edges of serul) at Babinda and other 

 scrub portions of the Cairns district. 



(■1) Mclia com posit a Willd. "White Cedar. 



A medium-sized erect tree, with rather smooth, mottled 

 grey bark. Leaves compound, the branchlets slender and 

 inclined to droop ; leaflets 5 to 7, ovate, pointed at apex, 

 1-2 in. long by |-1 in. broad, coarsely toothed, sometimes 

 lobed at base. Flowers in loose clusters, purple, small. Fruit 

 oval, -i-f in. long. 



This graceful tree is found on the edges of farms in the 

 volcanic lands near Gordonvale. 



Family AMPELIDE.F. 



(2) Tit is tri folia Linn. Wild Grape Vine. 



A woody climber, very common in forest land. Leaflets 

 3, ovate, 1-2 in. long, notched or toothed on the sides, with 

 soft fine silky hairs. Flowers small, inconspicuous. Berries 

 small, dark, globular. 



This creeper is frequently met with, clinging round the 

 trunks of forest trees. 



Family ANACARDIACE.E. 



(1) Semecarpits australirusis Engl. Tar-tree. 



A medium to large spreading tree, growing on lower 

 scrub lands; branches thick; bark grey and containing a 

 very caustic sap that blackens upon exposure to the air. 

 Leaves up to 12 in. long by 3 in. wide, elongate, narrowed 

 at base, pointed at apex, green above, grey or whitish 

 beneath. Flowers very small, clustered. Fruit 1 in, 

 diameter, about i in. thic-k, supported upon a large fleshy 

 succulent stalk. 



The tar-tree is well Icnown on account of the caustic 

 action of the sap. 



(2) • Buchanunia )iiuclh:ri Engl. 



A bushy and spreading tree of medium height, scrub 

 land. Leaves -4 to 6 in. long, 14^ in. broad, narrowed at base, 

 rounded at apex. Flowers usually below the terminal leaves; 

 small, whitish, in loose clusters on a stalk 2 in. long. Berries 

 small, round, purple, -| in. diameter. 



Resembles the cultivated mango very much in appear- 

 ance ; the leaves are very much like those of its relation the 

 tar-tree, but are smaller and more rounded at the apex. 



(3) Mangifcra indica Linn. ^Mango. 



