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Sassafras. 



(Doryphora sassafras, Endl.) 



This is a yellowish timber when first felled, but darkens when exposed so that it requires 

 to be used almost as soon as cut, for it seasons quickly. Some specimens in the Museum have 

 large black markings, which are not a figure as generally understood, but nevertheless give a very 

 distinct feature, and should be effective if artistically employed. It is close-grained, light in 

 weight, and dresses well. It is used for flooring, linings, mouldings, &c., and cou!d to some 

 extent be employed in furniture and cabinet work. 



Description of the Tree. A fairly tall tree, with a yellowish, tesselated, aromatic 

 bark. Leaves petiolate, ovate lanceolate, acuminate, coarsely toothed, up to 6 inches 

 long and 2\ inches broad, nearly smooth in upper surface, prominently reticulate on 

 the under surface. Flowers usually three together on an axillary short peduncle, with 

 two deciduous bracts. Perianth tube very small when in flower, enlarged and irregularly 

 split when in fruit. Fruit, a capsule, slightly hahy, the styles lengthening after fecun- 

 dation into long plumose awns. 



Geographical Range. Logan River, Queensland, south to Dromedary Mountain, 

 New South Wales. 



CM 



132 



