102 



Timber. — Brown, hard, heavy, and elastic; used by the natives for spears, 

 ■boomerangs, and elubs. The wood splits freely, and is used for fancy 

 turnery. Saplings used as stakes in vineyards have lasted twenty years or 

 more. It is used for rough building purposes. 



A fairly large tree, with rough bark, somewhat resembling that of Ironbark. 

 Leaves eurved and tapering, liaving a silvery hue. Wood darli-brown, and 

 also of a grey colour, fragrant, close-grained, and bends well. 



The timber is very heavy and dense, resembling Myall {Scacia pendula ; see 

 p. 06), but without the pronounced scent peculiar to that timber. It is 

 different also from the Myall in being not so brittle, and it is the favourite 

 material used for stockwhip handles in the Moree district. I am satisfied that 

 the timber possesses commercial value, which is restricted, however, by the 

 fact that the trunk of the maured tree would average, say, l.!i feet long and 

 8 inches diameter at each end. 



The aborigines used it almost exclusively in that district in the construc- 

 tion of their fighting and hunting implements. (C. J. McMaster.) 



Exudation.— All astringent gum of this species has been described, but 

 it' has no commercial value. 



Size. — ^Usually it attains a height of 20 or 30 feet in New South Wales, 

 and 10 feet more in Queensland, but exceptionally a greater size. 



Habitat. — ^Native of Central Queensland and New South Wales. It is 

 ^ery gregarious and abundant, as has been already indicated. Someone has 

 called it the " national scrub " of Queensland. It forms very large scrubs 

 oh inland downs country, and in some parts not far from the coast, such as 

 the Fassifern district. In the Narrabri district, ISTev/ South Wales, it is 

 very abundant, and it extends more or less abundantly as far as the Darling 

 and beyond. It extends as far south as Coolabah and Marsden (the most 

 southerly locality recorded). 



New South Wales localities not previously specifically enumerated are 

 Tarcoon, Bourke District, Nyngan, Dubbo, plains near Baradine, Warrah, 

 Willow-tree, Scone, Moree, Warialda. 



The trees attain a height of 20 to 30 feet, according to Mr. Cambage, and 

 cover about 5 acres, 3J miles west of Marsden. 



Half a mile from Scone, on the Gundy Eoad, there are thirteen trees 30-40 

 feet in height, and up to 2 feet through. Fine healthy trees now, but no 

 seedlings, as sheep eat them down. It is likely that when these trees die the 

 species will be exterminated in the district. 



Mr. C. J. McMaster says : " There are immense forests of matured Brigalow 

 extending from about 20 or 30 miles north of Mjoree far into Queensland." 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 126. 



A. Flowering branch. Natural size. 



B. Flower-head, 

 c. Young flower. 



D. Flower, opened out, showing — (a) Calyx, (6) Corolla, 



(e) Stamens, ((J) Pistil. 



E. I'od (natural size) opened, showing seeds inside. 

 p. Seed. 



The fruits from Ellerslie ; the remainder of specimens from Pilliga. 



