108 



" Motherumbung " is a variant), but I have received at least two other 

 wattles under that name. "KowarkuU" is a Queensland aboriginal name 

 (Stradbroke- Island, Watkins), and "Tchilgar'' is the Bundaberg (Queens- 

 land) name, according to Keys, quoted by Bailey. 



_ Fruit. — Dr.^ T. L. Bancroft says that the greeq pods of this plant are 

 rich in saponin. Dr. Lauterer draws further attention to saponin in this 

 plant. He found 3 per cent, of saponin in the unripe pods, and gives aa 

 instance of supposed sandy blight in a woodcutter, which he traced to the 

 eyes having been rubbed by the hands on which was some juice of the pods 

 of this species. Saponins are poisonous, and hence this wattle should be 

 viewed with suspicion as a fodder when in pod. For an account of saponins 

 see my " Forest Flora of New South Wales," Part VI, p 55. 



BarJc. — A specimen of this bark received from Dr. T. L. Bancroft, of 

 Brisbane, and obtained from Deception Bay, gave 13-32 per cent, of tannic 

 acid and 26-95 per cent, of extract. It is known locally as " Black Wattle." 

 It is from a tree 30 feet in height and 1 foot in diameter, stripped in May,- 

 analysed in July. Dr. Bancroft says : " This is the only tanning wattle 

 which grows near Brisbane in any great abundance." 



The inner bark consists largely of fibre, while the outer is furrowed and 

 scaly, of dark-brown colour; the thickness of the bark analysed averaged 

 * inch under the outer scaly portion. The colour is dark-reddish brown, 

 and altogether it looks a poor tan-bark. As a rule this tree carries a 

 hea-vyish bark. 



Timher. — Wood close-grained, and takes a good polish. It is dark- 

 coloured and hea-vy, and a useful vrood for cabinet purposes. It reminds 

 one very much of Eed Cedar, but it is heavier. It is very homogeneous. A 

 slab of this wood in the Technological Museum, which had been seasoned 

 over twenty-five years (having been exhibited at the London Exhibition o£ 

 1862), had a weight which corresponds to 46 lb. 12 oz. per cubic foot. 



Exudations. — Dr. T. L. Bancroft states that, in Queensland, gum of this 

 • species makes a good adhesive mucilage; it is, however, dark in' colour. 



Size. — None of the trees I have seen have exceeded 25 or 30 feet in height, 

 with a trunk diameter of 9 inches or 12 inches, but the size of the trees 

 referred to by Mr. Charles Moore (1862 Exhibition) is much greater. 



Habitat. — This is a widely diffused species, but its range requires much 

 more investigation yet. It is common in Queensland and New South 

 Wales, and Prof. Baldwin Spencer collected it at Hanson's Wells in Central 

 Australia. 



Its range in Quensland is very extensive, both coastally and furthi^r west. 



In New South Wales the following localities of specimens in the National 

 Herbarium, Sydney, will ghe a good idea of its range in this State: — ■ 

 Myrtle Creek, Eichmond River; Woodburn, Richmond River, Evans River, 

 30-40 feet, Lawrence to Casino, Hastings River; 6-10 feet, " Kurracabah " 

 or " Motherumba," Narrabri; Owen's Gap, Scone; Goulburn River ; Denman; 

 Sackville Reach, Hawkesbury River. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 137. 



A. Flowering twig. , 



B. Flowei; bud. 

 c. Fiower. 



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



(c) Stamens, (,/) Pistil. 



E. Pod. 

 I-. Seed. 



