Ironbark (Tasmania). This timber grows principally on the north-east 

 coast of Tasmania, and is equal in quality to the Iroiibark* found 011 the 

 Australian continent, and does not grow so tall or so large as the Gum, but 

 has a small heart, and is very durable in or out of the ground. It makes 

 splendid piles or medium-sized timber. The principal place for shipment 

 would be from George's Bay, this being the most central place for it. (John 

 Bradley.) 



It is used in Tasmania for sleepers, amongst other uses. 



Mr. E. A. Crawford, Moona Plains, Walcha, N.S.W., wrote to me in 

 1896 : 



The best all-round timber in this district ; of course it varies according to 

 locality. I have seen the timber on the ranges on the west side of the creek 

 last more than twice the time of timber from the other, same species and 

 split the same season. I know an old building roofed with shingles of this 

 wood, still in use; it was built early in the fifties. It is, of course, getting 

 leaky, but at 35 years old or more the roof was quite sound; the slabs might 

 yet go into a new building; rafters also sound. The fence of a paddock 

 erected about 1855 or '56 being badly damaged by fire last winter was taken 

 down, and most of the rails were again used with fresh posts. This and 

 capitellata both very lasting woods ; best we have for posts except coryrnbosa. 



Habitat. Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales. In New South 

 Wales chiefly in the coastal districts and coast ranges, at least as far north 

 aa the eastern slopes of New England. 



The species loves high, rocky, stony mountain ranges on poor barren 

 ground, and never takes to grassy localities. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 128. 



A. Juvenile leaves. 



B. Flowering twig. 

 c. Flower buds. 



D. Back and front views of anthers. 



E. Fruits. 



Eucalyptus obliqna, L'Herit. 

 THE BROAD-LEAVED MESSMATE. 



This is the first species of Eucalyptus known to science, it having been 

 originally collected by David Nelson, assistant botanist on Cook's Third 

 Voyage, 1776-9, and described by L ? Heritier in 1788. At the time of its 

 collection, and for long afterwards, Tasmania was looked upon as part of 

 Australia; moreover, like other early species, it was badly described, and 

 the specimens themselves were imperfect, and not easily accessible. The 

 result was that it was not recognised, until the sixties, that E. obliqua is 

 the common Tasmanian Stringybark. 



Botanical Name. Obliqua, Latin (oblique). It is a coarse-foliaged tree, 

 by which characteristic alone it can usually be distinguished from those 

 species with which it is usually associated, or with which it is likely to be 

 confused. Its strikingly oblique, unsymmetrical leaves have, no doubt, given 

 origin to its name. Obliquity is a character of nearly all Eucalyptus leaves, 

 but in the species under consideration, and in E. capitellata, it is particularly 

 observable. 



*Thi is undoubtedly exaggerated. 



