90 



iu different flowers, but, except in unusual cases, are borne 

 on separate trees. 



Each staminate flower consists of one stamen, clothed 

 at the base by a few minute bracts, one or two of which 

 are thrown off as the stamen elongates, and are considered 

 to be the representative of a perianth. The staminate 

 flowers are very numerous in the circles of leaves at the 

 ends of branchlets. The pistillate flowers are also numer- 

 ous in little lateral cones. Each consists of a minute one- 

 celled ovary, a long slender style with two delicate, red, 

 stigmatic branches; each has three small bracts, but no- 

 perianth. When in flower the red styles are very notice- 

 able, but not sufficiently so to attract insects. Fertilisa- 

 tion is effected by pollen being accidentally blown on tx> 

 the stigma by a current of air. Pollen is formed in 

 immense quantity on a Sheoke. There are certainly many 

 million grains produced for every one that reaches an 

 ovule. If you patiently watch a Sheoke with minute 

 staminate flowers you may notice at every slight puff of air 

 a thin cloud of innumerable grains being wafted abroad, 

 and it is seldom that any of them reach their effective 

 destination. The fruit recalls the idea of the cone of a 

 Pine. It is oblong, about an inch long, and covered with 

 sharp protuberances. The styles have fallen off, but the 

 ovary has become much enlarged, is thick, and ends in a 

 sharp point. When mature each ovary opens in two halves, 

 releasing two winged seeds. The wood is red and beauti- 

 fully marked with thick radiating rays. It is tough, and 

 valuable for decorative work and furniture. It is an 

 excellent fuel, and it seems a pity it is seldom used for 

 other purposes. The rays are what is known to joiners as 

 silver-grain, and is present in all woods, but in many 

 instances it is too slender to be readily seen. These rays 

 are of use to the tree in affording an easy means of com- 

 munication between the superficial and deep tissues; they 

 are channels for the transmission of food and air. 



Buloke is also a small tree of similar character, but the 

 branchlets are all erect. They are more slender, have 

 only six to eight scale-leaves and grooves, and both stamin- 

 ate and pistillate flowers are present on the same tree. 

 The fruit is smaller, and the ovaries are verv short and 

 blunt. Otherwise the details are as in the last. 



Dwarf Buloke differs but slightly. It is a small shrub- 

 with some pubescence on the branchlets and more suc- 

 culent cones. It is common in heathy country, and not 

 verv distinct from the last. 



