80 



Myrtles. 



1. Angophora laneeolata (Smooth Barked Apple). 



2. Trisiania conferlp, (Brush Box). 



3. Melaleuca leucadendron (Broad-leaved Tea- tree). 



4. Syncarpia laurifolia (Turpentine). 



AngopTiora laneeolata, Cav. 



The Smooth-barked Apple. 



Botanical Name. — It is from two Greek words signifying " vessel 

 ■•'bearing" iii allusion to the fruits; but its meaning does not imply anything 

 ■-particularly characteristic, as it would be equally appropriate if applied to 



th6se of the Eucalypts. The specific name laneeolata is in allusion to the 



shape of the leaves, but these vary in width somewhat. 



Yernacular Names. — Sydney workmen know it best by the name of Red 



'Gum; but, as this name has been appropriated, over vast areas, by a different 



'tree {Eucalyptus rostrata), it may be well to leave the latter in undisputed 



possession, reserving for A. laneeolata the appropriate designation of the 



; " Sfiiooth-barked Apple-tree," the only objection to which is its length. The 



.smooth bark is not perfectly white in colour, but of a uniform yellowish-red 



tint; hence two of' its names, " Orange Gum" and "Rusty Gum." Hardly 



at any period of the year will you see one of these trees unstained with kino, 



which frequently exudes in considerable quantity, and every bit shows up 



on the pale-coloured, smooth bark. These stains being of an orange or 



rusty colour, have intensified the appropriateness of the designations just 



alluded to. Because it is common on the Bhie l!tQuntains, it sometimes 



■ goes by the name of " Mountain Apple-tree," but as often as not it is simply 



called " Apple." 



Flotvers. — ^Note the delicate petals in these flowers. The closely allied 

 ' ICucalypts have no petals. 



Mr. Cambage pointed out to me that there is indiarubber in Angophora 

 laneeolata leaves, which I confirmed. It is common enough in the closely- 

 related," Cqrmybosse "_ section of the genus Eucalyptus. 



. . Timier. — As might have been expected with such a free yielder of kino, 

 .the timber of this tree is liable to gum- veins; in fact, it is difficult to get a 



t piece of any size from them. JSTevertheless. it is a useful timber, strong and 

 heavy, and used for naves of wheels, flooring-boards, slabs, roiagh buildings, 

 and fuel. 



The plant tissue of this tree possesses a wonderful power of accommo- 

 dating its shape, or rather the direction of its growth, to the .rocky ground 

 on which it is usually found. Thus we find the base of the tree often flat- 

 tened out, and following the course of obstacles, reminding one of a gigantic 

 'Candle placed on a surface sufficiently warm to soften the wax or fat, which 

 then, by the weight of the candle, moulds itself into shapes determined by 

 the obstacles it encounters. The comparison is a homely one, and it is only 

 intended to refer to the plastic appearance, not, of course, the result of heat 

 in any way in the case of the tree. 



