81 



The " plastic " appearance of the trunk has been referred to. I would also 

 like to draw attention to the fact that the branches of this tree display 

 considerable tendency to fuse together when brought into contact (making 

 natural grafts, see " Forest Flora of New South Wales," Part LIV), some of 

 the combinations taking on a looping or anastomosing character, sometimes 

 of a grotesque appearance. I am indebted for photographs exhibiting such 

 phenomena to Mr. J. B. Henson, engineer of the Newcastle Water Supply, 

 and the Hon. J. B. Nash, M.D., M.L.C., both of whom obtained their sub- 

 jects in the; Newcastle district, and to Mr. Keith Harris, whose pictures 

 came from Hazelbrook, Blue Mountains. 



Exudations. This tree is a free yielder of kino. It dries readily on 

 exposure, so that the aperture is soon blocked up with the indurated sub- 

 stance. If this be picked off, the wound begins to flow afresh, and thus a 

 considerable quantity may be collected. This kino bears a strong resemblance 

 to that of a few gum-tree kinos. It is of a reddish-brown colour, and, when 

 quite dry is very friable, readily powdering between the fingers. It possesses 

 a sourish, unpleasant smell, not easily described, which is strongest when 

 the kino is quite new, and the proximity of an Apple-tree can thus be 

 frequently determined by the smell alone. For reasons which need not be 

 gone into now, Apple-tree kino does not precisely fill the requirements of 

 the British Pharmacopoeia as regards kino; nevertheless it is a valuable 

 astringent remedy, frequently available in the bush when more elegant 

 preparations are not obtainable. 



Size. Up to 50 or 60 feet, with a diameter of 2 or 3 feet. On the 

 Narrabri sand-hills its height is 40 to 50 feet, and diameter 1 to 2 feet. Mr. 

 Boorman and I measured, on Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, a tree 

 13 feet 6 inches in circumference at 4 feet from the ground. 



Habitat. This tree is found in the coast districts and mountain ranges, 

 and extends a considerable distance into the interior. The most southerly 

 locality known to me is the ranges around Nerrigundah, near the Victorian 

 border (J. S. Allan), while it extends to the Rockhamiptoii district in 

 Queensland. I have collected it on sandy ridges near Narrabri, N.S.W. It 

 is very abundant in the coast districts and in the Blue Mountains, occurring 

 at least as far west as Mt. Tomah. The two Cunninghams found it north 

 of Bathurst, which would connect with the Narrabri locality. Mr. Forest 

 Guard W. Dunn records it from the highlands between Acacia Creek and 

 Wilson's Downfall. 



This tree is usually considered a sign of poor soil, and it is marvellous 

 to observe how a giant tree often flourishes upon what appears to be almost 

 bare rock, and one wonders both how such a bulky plant can obtain nourish- 

 ment and how the roots can spread sufficiently to secure the necessary hold. 

 At the same time the tree does not object to improved surroundings, and 

 I have observed it and Turpentine (Syncarpia laurifolia, usually a sign of 

 good soil) growing happily together to a fair size, and in some instances 

 the two growing- as closely together as if they had sprung from the same 

 stock. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 43. 



A. Flower looked at from above (a) Stamens, (ft) Petal, (c) Sepal, 



(d) Stigma. 



B. Flower looked at from below (a) Calyx, (?>) Petal, (r) Stamens, 

 c. Vertical section through the flower (a) Calyx, (&) Stamens, 



(c) Stigma, (d) Ovary. 

 D. Cluster of fruits. 

 K. Vertical section through the fruit. 

 F. Transverse section through the fruit. 



