PAST^ PRESENT^ AND FUTURE OP THE AUSTRALIAN FLORA. 115 



tmgnishecl for the various kinds of wood whicli can be 

 applied to practical purposes, such as liouse-buiiriing, 

 fencing, railway sleepers, naves, felloes and spokes of Avlieels, 

 staves of casks, piles, handles, cabinet work, &c. Some ol 

 the species yield valuable bark and resin, while others are 

 becoming favourite trees for plantations in different parts of 

 the world on account of their absorbing properties and the 

 influence which they exercise on the atmosphere. In the 

 same order also certain species of Melaleuca, Angopliora, 

 Tristania, Syncarpia and Eugenia are valued for their woods ; 

 but none are more highly esteemed than those of the 

 Meliaceas or Cedar family, of which the Red Cedar ( Cedrela 

 Australis, Mueller) is most admired and the most generally 

 used by cabinet-makers. Dysoxylon and Flindersla of the 

 >same family are utilised for similar purposes. Ceratopetalum 

 apetalnm (Don) of the Saxifrageas, Trochocarpa laurina 

 (BroAvn), and Monotoca elliptica (Brown) of the Epacrifleos, 

 and many other species allied to them are employed by 

 artisans. On the whole, now that the woods of Australia 

 are becoming better known, it is found that the unfavourable 

 reports furnished by the early colonists were formed from a 

 very limited knowledge of the Australian forests. The 

 progress which has been made in this respect is very evident 

 from a comparison of the woods collected by the late !Sir 

 William Macarthur for the Universal Exhibition of 1<S67, 

 with the lists recently furnished (1888) by Mr. F, M. Bailey, 

 F.L.S. In the former, the Eucalypts and many others 

 appear chiefly with popular names, whilst in the latter they 

 are arranged according to their respective orders, genera, 

 and species as given in the Flora or in the Census of Baron 

 von ]\Iueller. 



Many species of Eucalyptus contain medicinal properties. 

 Oum kino has long been known to the scientific Avorld, and 

 volatile oil distilled from gum leaves was used by the early 

 colonists. I'he alioriginal inhabitants were aAvare of the 

 therapeutic virtues of Eucalypt leaves and the efflcacy of the 

 liquid kino exuding from Angophora, but it remained for 

 more recent times to discover the wonderful properties of 

 E. (jlohulus (Labill.), and to secure for Folia Eucalypti, Olevin 

 Eucalypti, and Eacalyptol, a place in the Pharmacopoeia. 

 Many species of Acacia have astringent properties, and a 

 decoction of their bark is used in cases of diarrhoea and 

 dysentery, and also to make embrocations for tJie cure ot 

 cutaneous disorders. Alstonia constricta (LIueller) is used as 



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