209 



EXPLANATION OF 1M.ATH 21. 



The small twig at the right hand bottom of the plate shows the normal 

 flowers. 



The large twig, tilling most of the plate, shows the enlarged calyx-lobes, 

 forming the " flowers." 



A. Flower. 



H. Flower in more advanced stage (o) Lobe of calyx, (I)) Stamen, 



i c I'erigynons disc. 

 (. Flower, further advanced with calyx removed (<?) Half inferior 



ovary, ( r I Hecurved styles. 

 D. Stamen, front and back view of anther appendage. 



Doryphora sassafras, Endl. 

 THE XEW SOUTH WALES SASSAFRAS. 



Botanical .\arne. Doryphora (Greek) Doru (a spear), phero (I bear), 

 perhaps in allusion to the long appendage to the anther; sassafras., because 

 its odour is reminiscent of that of the well-known Sassafras of North 

 America. 



Vernacular Name. Sassafras, or by ignorant people Sassafrax. Some- 

 times it is called Black Sassafras. I would sugggest the name New South 

 Wales Sassafras for Doryphora, as it is mainly developed in this State, 

 Atherosperma, another Sassafras, being more abundant in Tasmania and 

 Victoria, and Cinnamomum Oliveri in Queensland. 



Leaves. The tree has dense bright glossy foliage and aromatic odour, 

 filling the brushes with a delicious fragrance. 



Flowers. The flowers are pure white and star-like, forming a beautiful 

 display in contrast to the dark, shining foliage. 



Bar/.-. This is our common Xew South Wales Sassafras, and tea is com- 

 monly made from its bark at the present day in the coastal districts. Tne 

 aromatic flavour is not unpleasant, although it requires practice to really 

 like it. Besides a mere beverage, it is also used as a tonic medicine. The 

 odour is rather fugacious. It is taken in the form of an infusion. Dr. 

 T. L. Bancroft, however, informs the writer, " I have tried the bark on frogs, 

 and found it to be inert." 



Timber. If properly dried before being put into a building as a ceiling, 

 lining, or flooring boards, it is a valuable timber, but it takes a long time 

 to dry; it is not much used for joinery work, as it will not stand glueing. 

 I know a chest of drawers the inside of which is made of it, and it is 

 perfectly sound after thirty years; white ants will not touch it; it is 

 now being tried as weather-boards, but I am afraid it will require a lot of 

 paint, as it is so open-grained. It is sometimes use for packing-cases. It 

 is of a canary-yellow colour when quite fresh, but it becomes dirty looking 

 with age. It is fragrant, and disagreeable to vermin. 



There is no question as to its durability in some situations. The following: 

 are extracts from) three letters referring to it. In judging white-ant proof 

 timbers one must bear in mind that white-ants, if put to it, will eat 

 anything, but that they prefer some timbers to others, and will leave somo 

 timbers quite intact while eating these that are more palatable. 



During the month of February. 18G."t, I laid a floor of this sort of timber in 

 T'.onral. The situation was on a very low damp condition, and though the floor 

 had beon in contact with the hardwood slabs of the wall, and these so 

 thoroughly worried with the white ants as hardly to be able to stand on end, 

 and have had to be taken away, the floor boards have been but 3 inches above the 



