23 



Eucalyptus siderophloia, Benth. 



j The Broad-leaved Ieonbark. 



A " coarse " species, that is to say, taving coarse fruits (as compared ■witli 

 the other Ironbarks, paniculata and crehra) and coarsely-furrowed bark. 

 Altogether a very sturdy tree, reminding one, in this respect, of the British 

 Oak. 



There is a glaucous form (var. glauca, Deane and Maiden) which goes 

 under the name of " Blue-leaf Ironbark " and " Broad-leaf Ironbark " in the 

 Dubbo district. 



Botanical Name. — Siderophloia, from two Greek words — sideros (iron), 

 and pMoia (bark) — in reference to the common Australian name for such 

 trees. 



Vernacular Names. — "Broad-leaved Ironbark." Perhaps this is the most 

 distinctive name for this species, a characteristic by which it may be readily 

 distinguished, particularly in young trees. It is often called " Red Iron- 

 bark," particularly from northern localities. 



Flowers. — The buds are often, when young, of the " egg-in-egg-cup " 

 shape— that is to say, the operculum is of noticeably less diameter than the 

 calyx. (See figure.) The bud is commonly beaked. 



Fruits. — The fruits have generally exsert valves (teeth, some people call 

 them), which is usually quite sufficient to distinguish this from other 

 Ironbarks. 



Baric — The ridges of bark common to all Ironbarks are flattest in this 

 species — that is to say, in other Ironbarks they are sharper and more conical 

 in section. 



Timber. — Coming to the particular Ironbark of which ^ve are speakinej, 

 the timber has the highest reputation for strength and durability, and is 

 used for large beams in stores for heavy goods, railway sleepers, and other 

 purposes where great strength is required. It is also used for dray poles. 

 Its extreme hardness renders it difficult to work, It is largely used for 

 spokes. 



The Ironbark of the Clarence is not liked as comipared with southern 

 Ironbark, as it is inclined to split and shell. 



Speaking of this Ironbark, chiefly from the Manning Eiver district, the 

 late Mr. Augustus Eudder wrote: — 



The mature tres are generally pipy, and the colour of the wood is red. The 

 timber of this Ironbark is strong, hard, dense, and heavy, but in lasting quality 

 is not always reliable, as I have repeatedly seen it quite rotten after ten or 

 fifteen years, but this is not usual. It is very plentiful in places, in the 

 Clarence River district in particular, but in these parts the timber is of inferior 

 quality, especially on the ridges, where the trees are stunted and badly grown. 

 For railway sleepers this timber is fairly good, but is scarcely to he recom- 

 mended in the round, as a rule, for bridge-work, as its central heartwood is 

 not reliable, and it is very subject to the white ant, more so than any other 

 hardwood I know of. 



^j2e. — This is a large tree, attaixjing the height of 100 feet, with a 

 diameter of 4 feet and more. Being a timber in such demand, most of the 

 largest trees have long since been cut down in readily accessible places. 



