

Musk. 



(Olearia argophylla, F.v.M.) 



This tree is a giant amongst its class, as it is quite unusual for a Compositse to attain 

 arboreal proportions, but still at the same time another Composite, the Cotton Tree or Dogwood 

 (Senecio Bedfordii\ exceeds it in height. It is recorded as having a height of 25 feet, and a 

 diameter of 12 inches. The timber is straight-grained, not hard, of a light chocolate colour, 

 easily dressed, takes a good polish, and should not be kept in the log, but cut into planks as soon 

 as felled ; the sap wood, as well as the bark, being removed before stacked for seasoning. The root 

 stock is large and spreading, and sometimes two or more stems grow from it. It is beautifully 

 figured, not unlike American Bird's Eye Maple, and so is a valuable decorative wood for 

 veneers, being quite unique in character. The range of its usefulness would, perhaps, be limited 

 by the quantity available. It would be very useful for many ornamental articles, especially 

 to be used in contrast with some of the lighter coloured timbers. 



Description of the Tree. Often a fair-sized tree with a stout stem, found in the brush 

 lands of the Coastal districts. Bark light coloured, coming off in strips. Leaves alter- 

 nate, petiolate, from oval-elliptical to oblong-lanceolate, acute at both ends, more or less 

 callous denticulate, or rarely quite entire, 3 to 5 inches long, reticulate and glabrous 

 above, silvery silky underneath. Flowers small, numerous in large terminal corymbs. 

 Involucre oblong-turbinate ; ray florets about three to five; disk florets, six to eight. 



Geographical Range. This tree covers a rather restricted area in the brushes of 

 the South Coast districts. 



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