188 



Size. It is not a large tree. It rarely attains a larger size than a height 

 of 40 feet, and a stem-diameter of li to 2 feet. 



Habitat. It occurs in all the States except Western Australia. It is not 

 found in the centre of Australia; but, although its' natural habitat is the 

 <joast and coast mountain ranges, on. poor, rocky soil, it is found in moun- 

 tainous country many miles west of Sydney. 



It is very common in Tasmania. It is found all over Victoria except in 

 the north-west. 



In South Australia Prof. Tate gives the range as south of the Murray 

 Desert, embracing the 90-mile Desert and the Tatiara. 



It is found from south to the extreme north of Queensland. 



In New South Wales it is very widely diffused. In the coast districts it 

 is found from the Victorian to the Queensland border. It is common in 

 the tablelands from end to end of the State. Its westerly range appears 

 to be the Castlereagh Eiver. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 72. 



A. Branch" with pistilliferous flowers. 



B. Twig with cones. 



c. Winged nut containing seed. 



D. Branch with staminiferous flowers. 



E. Staminiferous flowers. 



F. Portion of branchlet, showing portions of two joints. 



G. Whorled bracts representing leaves, opened out. 



Casuarina Cunning hamiana, Miq. 

 THE KIVER OAK. 



Botanical Name. Cunninghamiana, in honour of Allan Cunningham, 

 King's Botanist, and formerly Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, 

 Sydney. 



Vernacular Names. " Eiver or White Oak." This is the commonest tree 

 on the banks of the most of our fresh-water rivers, and therefore the name 

 " River Oak " is specially appropriate. C. glauca is the River Oak found 

 on the margins of tidal rivers. 



Leaves (Branchlets). This is a tree whose branches were felled in 



enormous quantities for stock-feeding during the late drought. In many 



districts the mortality amongst sheep and cattle would have been far 

 .greater than it was had it not been for this valuable tree. 



Fruits. This species is the smallest fruited of all the New South Wales 

 She Oaks. 



Timber. Sap-wood white. Wood red (not deep), with a purplish cast. 

 It dries to a brownish-purple. Some of it has a handsome figure. It is used 

 for bullock-yokes (District Forester Stopford, Armidale), shingles, and 

 staves. This and other Casuarinas burn well, and their ashes retain the 

 heat for a long while. I look upon it as a valuable timber, and it can be 

 obtained of large size. Wood strong, light, very tough when dry; excellent 

 for many purposes requiring lightness and strength; stated by some to be 

 not durable if exposed to the weather. 



One of the most durable oaks, is suitable for bullock-yokes, handles, &c. 

 (District Forester Rotton, Nowra.) 



