Tulip Wood 



(Harpullia penditla, Planch.) 



A list of the cabinet timbers would not be complete, perhaps, without a few remarks 

 on this one, and if the tree were only more numerous the timber would be much in request. 

 At present it only finds its way into the market in very limited supplies, so is not often now 

 found in the cabinet-makers' workshops. That it was a regular article of commerce in the past 

 is proved by the following. quotation taken from a Toy and Fancy article advertisement in a 

 Sydney Directory of 1848 : 



"... also Ebony, Australian Tulip Wood, . . . *Henry Parkes, Ivory and Bone Toy 

 Manufacturer, No. 20 Hunter street." 



The wood is close-grained, hard and heavy, yet works easily, and has a pretty figure 

 produced by a dark brown or almost black colouring, with whitish streaks. It is very suitable 

 for turning, and has been used for small legs of ornamental drawing-room tables, and is 

 specially suited for small mallets, and cases for medical and other scientific instruments. 

 Apart from its cabinet qualities, the tree itself makes a very ornamental park addition, and is 

 well worthy of cultivation. The wood looks well in ornamental boxes, picture-frames, salvers, 

 &c., ornamented with silver, when a contrast is produced between the white metal and the 

 dark streaked colours. 



Afterwards Sir Henry Parkes, K.C.M.G., Premier of New South Wales. 



Description of the Tree. A tall tree of the northern brus])-. Leaves pinnate, leaflets 

 usually three to six. ovate to elliptical oblong, obtusely acuminate, 3 to 5 inches long, 

 thin or membraneous, veins prominent underneath. Flowers in loose, slender terminal, 

 little-branched panicles, small. Sepals under J of an inch long. Petals ovate, slightly 

 larger. Stamens five to seven, much longer than the calyx, with slender filaments in the 

 males, small and short in the females. Fruit a glabrous capsule, i to ii inch broad, the 

 lobes inflated. Seeds without any arillus. 



Geographical Range. In the brushes of the North Coast district of New South 

 Wales and Queensland. 



62 



