101 



Aboriginal .\';im, .-..- The conn-nou "B word was spelt 



"Brijrnli-i'-" by (Joulcl. and " Hricklow " by Leichhardt. The latter stated 

 lie could not ascertain the meaning of the name. " Orkor " of some 

 aborigines. (AV. Hill in Cat. Queensland Timbers, No. 141, London Inter- 

 national Exhibition, 1862.) Hill gave the botanical name as A. excelsa, 

 .but it is obvious, from his description, that this is a slip of the pen for 

 'A. harpophylla. The mistake is, however, of some importance since it is 

 repeated in the " Treasury of Botany " and other works. 



Leaves. The scimitar-shaped leaves (phyllodes) of this species, with 

 their blue-grey, silvery sheen, present an appearance which is characteristic, 

 and which, once seen, is never forgotten. 



The tree grows in almost impenetrable forests with open glades, in which 

 are some of the most beautiful landscape effects I have ever seen. For the 

 greater part of the year the foliage has a brilliant aluminium sheen, which, 

 added to the very symmetrical form of growth of the clumps and fringes of 

 the forest gives a very fine effect. (C. J. McMaster, Chairman, Western Lands 

 Board.) 



Brigalow, the national scrub of Queensland, as it may be called, for It is 

 found there more largely than in any of the other colonies, can scarcely be 

 called a fodder plant, for it is only eaten by stock under pressure of hunger, 

 nor will it of itself sustain life, although it may prolong it. It grows all over 

 the north of Queensland, both on the coastal and inland waters, and extends 

 west beynd the boundary of the colony until it is supplanted by the mulga. It 

 Is generally, but not always, accompanied by a low undergrowth of edible and 

 fattening plants and shrubs, including saltbush. Brigalow, like pine, evinces 

 a great facility for spreading and extending its area on the country being 

 stocked. The reason for this is hard to determine. Apparently there is no 

 more encouragement for it to grow after the settlement of the country than 

 "before. The eating down of the grass and consequent lessened fierceness of 

 the bush fires can have nothing to do with it, as brigalow, unlike pine, cannot 

 be destroyed by fire. (Sydney Mail, 1890.) 



Brigalow is rung with a wide ring as it suckers from the roots. (Forester 

 Bishop Lyne, Narrabri.) 



Fruits. The pods were only described a few years ago, and the following 

 memorandum of the Chairman of the Western Lands Board will show that 

 it is not surprising that the fruits were not earlier described. 



I have had a little experience in collecting and germinating Brigalow seed 

 In the Moree district. I am under the impression that the tree matures seeds 

 only at long intervals, and the pods appear to hang until heavy rains fall, 

 when they burst, and the soft seed falling germinates immediately. I have 

 tried in a primitive way to germinate the dry seeds, but without success, but 

 the seeds collected and planted in the condition first above-mentioned grew 

 freely, and the young plants have attained the height of fully 3 inches in as 

 many days after planting the seed. Once the seed becomes settled it seems 

 to grow slowly. I may mention that I was on the look out for Brigalow seeds 

 for about ten years before I finally secured some, and, in reply to questions, I 

 was informed by people who had lived many years in the Brigalow country 

 that they had never seen any seeds on the trees. This, of course, may have 

 been due to want of careful observation. (C. J. McMaster.) 



The pods drop off as soon as they are ripe, which was in November (1906). 

 They resemble snake beans in their green state, and when they ripen they 

 open, drop the seed out. and then fall off the tree. (J. F. Turner, Ellerslie, 

 Bnngonia, February, 1907.) 



Bark. This tree yields a considerable amount, of tan-bark of inferior 

 quality. A Queensland correspondent informs me that a sample analysed 

 in London gave 11-59 per cent, of tannic acid. 



