117 

 CXLIII. LAURINE^E. 



135. Cryptocarya sp. 



Underbush. Kafir : um-Xaleba. 

 Drakensberg forests. 



A small tree 6-18 inches in diameter, the stem seldom straight. Bark brown, 

 thin, exfoliating in papery sheets. Wood very heavy and hard, very strong and 

 tough, very close-grained and compact ; annual rings irregular ; medullary rays very 

 close and fine, with transverse bars of white tissue ; pores small, not numerous ; colour 

 light brown, tinged with red ; used for spokes ; fruit edible. 



136. Cryptocarya sp. (Wood No. 766.) 



Kafir ; Xoboti. 



A small tree, 12-18 inches in diameter. Bark brown or dark grey, moderately thin,, 

 smooth, exfoliating in thin papery sheets. . Wood heavy, hard, close grained and com- 

 pact, strong and tough ; annual rings obscure ; medullary rays very fine and close ; 

 pores small, regularly distributed ; colour pale yellow. Fruit edible but insipid. 



C. sp. (Wood No. 1402), Kafir : um-Tungwa, is found in the South Drakens- 

 berg forests. 



C. sp., Kafir : um-Ncatyane, is another species growing in the North Drakensberg 

 forests. 



137. Ocotea bullata. 



Oreodaphne bullata, Nees. Sylv. Cap. p. 31. 

 Stinkwood. Dutch : Stinkhout. 



From the Cape Peninsula to Znluland, reaching its greatest development at Knysna, 

 the Zitzikama, and Kaffraria ; in Natal it occurs in the South Western forests and the 

 Drakensberg as far north as the Lobonjo River, at an altitude of 3,500-4,500 fee ; 

 prefers damp rich soil. 



A large evergreen tree of the first economic importance, 3-5 feet in diameter, 

 60-90 feet high, with a tapering trunk, often hollow in old trees. Bark dark brown 

 rugged and scaly in old trees ; grey, smooth, moderately thin, in young trees. Wood 

 heavy, hard, very strong, moderately elastic, tough, lustrous, with a fetid smell when 

 freshly cut, durable in contact with the ground ; medullary rays fine, close ; pores 

 moderately small, numerous, regularly distributed ; colour usually dark brown, as in the 

 Black Stinkwood of commerce, grey or pale golden yellow in other varieties and in 

 sapwood ; takes a fine polish, and makes very handsome furniture ; used for planks, 

 beams, furniture, doors, and door and window frames, for every description of wagonwood 

 except spokes, for railway sleepers, &c. 



Bark astringent, used for tanning. 



Stinkwood is one of the most important of South African trees, ranking with the 

 Oak of Europe, and the Teak of Indian forests ; its timber is procurable in conveniently 

 large sizes, but the demand appears to exceed the supply. The culture of this species,, 

 though it has not hitherto been attended with much success, should engage the attention 

 of a Forest Department in Natal ; the young plants do not seem to thrive outside the 

 forest, but this difficulty would probably be overcome by seeking carefully the necessary 

 conditions of growth. 



The young plants are very hardy in the forest but are intolerant of shade and 

 remain dwarfed if deprived of sunlight. The seed keeps badly and should be sown 

 soon after gathering. Stinkwood is a good coppicer, and a tree of moderately fast 

 growth ; the growth averages 0'60 inches in girth a year at Knysna in the natural 

 forest, but in open situations it is more rapid, and averages 95 inches in clearings. 



CXLIV. PROTEACE^. 



138. Protea hirta. 



White Sugarbush. Kafir : isi-Qalaba. isi~Hlunga. 



North Drakensberg ; mountain slopes, and ridges between forests. 



