86 



"The trees grow to an average height of 120 feet, with an average 

 diameter of 2 feet 6 inches." (Mr. Torester Pope, MurwiHumbah.) 



"Height 150 feet, diameter 3 feet." (Mr. Forester MacDonald, Kemp- 

 sey.) I saw trees of this size also in the Bellinger Eiver district. 



Propagation. — From seed. It is one of the best shade-trees of New South 

 iWales, is evergreen, with rich glossy leaves, white feathery-looking flowers, 

 and fruits looking very much like those of gum-trees. It is to be seen in 

 thousands of Sydney gardens, planted: for shade and ornament, the tree 

 being shapely as well as possessing handsome foliage. It is one of the best 

 trees for street planting in the Sydney climate, and has been largely adopted 

 by the Municipality of Strathfield in boulevarding the streets of Strathfield 

 and Hom.ebush, but more extensively by Ashfield. Other municipalities 

 have used it less. It is well worthy of being planted in the play-grounds of 

 schools where there is a fair depth of soil, and the climate is warm and 

 not too dry. 



EXIT.AXATION OF PLATE 17. 



A. Expanding bucl. 



, E. Front view of fully expanded flower, showing staminal bundles, 

 c. Vertical section of ovary, with stylo and stigma (petals 

 removed). 



D. Transverse section of ovary. 



E. Top view of fruit. 



Melaleuca leucadendron, L. 



The Broad-leaved Tea-tree. 



li otanical Name. — Melaleuca, from two Greek words — melas (black), and 

 leulcos (white), because the trunk of the first tree described was black and the 

 branches white. The explanation probably is that trunk and branches were 

 alike papery and white, but that the trunk (as is often the case) was charred 

 by a fire, giving it a blackish appearance. Leucadendron, also from two 

 Greek words, leulcos, white, and dendron, a tree, hence " White tree " from 

 its general appearance. In fact, we in Australia sometimes call it " White 

 Tea-tree."' 



Vernacular Namei^. — Like so many Australian Myrtaceous trees and 

 shrubs it is known as '' Tea-tree." Because of the broadness of its leaves it 

 is usually known by the name " Broad-leaved Tea-tree." It is known also 

 as " Swamp Tea-tree "'because (with other species of the genus) it grows in 

 swamps. Because of the foliaceous character of its bark, which gives the 

 trunk a whitish appearance, it is known as " Paper-bark tree " and " White 

 Tea-tree." ' Baron Mueller calls it the," Tropical Paper-bark tree." I have 

 heard that it is called " Milkwood " in the Northern Territory. 



Aboriginal Name.i. — '' Numbah " of the aborigines of the southern part 

 of New South Wales, according, to the late Sir William Maeartlmr. I 

 Avould suggest that this is the origin of the name of the township of Numba, 

 near the mouth of the Shoalhaveii Eiver. 



Following is a note by Mr. J. D. Lord, Pulilic School, Numba, in regard 

 to my suggestion that the township may be named after the tree. 



The name Numba is' generally spelt with a final double " a " — " Xumbaa," 

 and is most certainly an aliorigiual word; 1 have often discussed this very 

 name with old .settlers, who are more or less acqiiiihited with the early naming 

 of tUlB df.'Jtl'ict, but no two agree. 



