COMMON TEEES IN EELATTON TO AEEIAL LIFE OF BEETLES. 33 



grey or yellowish hairs ; terminal twigs angular. Leaves 

 broadly sickle-shaped, 4-8 in. long, 1-3 in. broad, with 3 

 prominent veins. Flowers in small globular heads, creamy 

 or pale yellowish, borne in great clusters. Pod straight or 

 curved, very tiat, 3-5 in. long, f in. broad, leathery. 



A common tree in the vicinity of Cairns ; it is never 

 found in swampy land, and does not attain a large size. At 

 a casual glance it might be mistaken for A. aidacocarpa, but 

 the bark is much more ribbed or roughened. When in flower 

 the masses of creamy blossoms are very noticeable. 



(4) Poiigaviia glabra Vent. 



A small tree with widely spreading head, the bark rather 

 smooth and light brown. Leaves compound or pinnate, each 

 leaf containing 5-9 smooth, glossy green leaflets, pointed 

 ovate, 2-4 in. long by 1-1| in. wide. Flowers in pairs, grouped 

 together on stalks 3-5 in. long; flowers ^ in. long, lilac- 

 coloured. Pods l|-2 in. long by 1 in. broad, woody, contain- 

 ing one or two brown flat seeds about f in. long. 



A graceful tree. The foliage has been found of value as 

 fodder for stock. 



(3) Foinciana rcgia. Poinciana. 



Food plant of Xylotrupes austral ic us. 



(4) FitheJocohiurn saman. Rain-tree. 



(3) Casfanospcrmum australc A. Cunn. ^Nloreton Bay Chestnut or 

 Bean-tree. 



A large to very tall tree, with dense glossy foliage. 

 Leaves compound, 1-1^ ft. long; leaflets 11 to 15, oval or 

 broadly oblong, pointed at apex, 3-5 in. long. Flowers 

 usually on the branches or old wood, bright red and orange, 

 1-1^ in. long and 1 in. wide. Pod 8-9 in. long by 2 in. broad, 

 curved and pointed at apex, spongy inside and divided into 

 3-5 cells, each containing a large chestnut-like seed. 



This fine scrub tree is too well known to require much 

 description. 



Family COMBRETACEiE. 



(2) T erminalia catappa Linn. Fiji Almond. 



A deciduous tree, with wide spreading branches, some- 

 times attaining a large size, cultivated in parks, gardens, &c., 

 but also found wild ; branches in horizontal circles round 

 the trunk. Leaves clustered at end of branches, very large, 

 up to 16 in. long by 8 in. broad. Flowers on solitary ter- 

 minal spikes, very small, dull-coloured, and strongly scented. 

 Fruit yellowish, 1-2 in. long, compressed and showing two 

 distinct ridges. 



The horizontal branches and large leaves make this tree 

 very noticeable; the kernel of the fruit is edible. 



