187 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 55. 



A. Twig, with young pistilliferous flowers and cones. 



11. Pistilliferous flower. 



<■. Twig, with cones. 



I). Ripe cone. 



i:. Winged nut containing seed (enlarged). 



F. Branchlets, with staminiferous flowers. 



fi. Stanilnferous flowers. 



II. I'ortion of branchlet in transverse section, sliowing portions of 



two joints. 

 I. Portion of branchlet, opened out, i.e., whorled bracts representing 



leaves. 



Casuarina suberosa, Otto et Dietr. 



' The Black She Oak. 



Botanical Name. — Siiberosa, Latin (cbrl^y), in allusion to tlie appearance 

 of the bark. The name is not specially appropriate. 



Vernacular Names. — On this tree a number of appellations have been 

 bestowed, viz. : — " ^Erect She Oak " (a name which refers to the general habit 

 of the tree) ; " Forest Oak " (a name which had perhaps better be left to 

 (.'. torulosa) is in common use for it over large areas of country. 



In Tasmania it goes by the name of " Swamp Oak " and " Marsh O^k " ; 

 other species pass under these names on the mainland. On the mainland 

 C. suherosa is not a moisture-loving species. In Tasmania it was pointed 

 out to me as " Bull Oak," but here, again, another species is so-called in 

 Australia. In Tasmania it is also called " He Oak." I propose the name 

 " Black She Oak " for the species, because of its dark aspect. It is fairly 

 appropriate, and has not been adopted for any other species. 



Leaves. — The "leaves" (branchlets) are sometimes used to a small extent 

 for fodder, but this species is one of the least valuable of the She Oaks for 

 that purpose. 



Bark. — The bark of this tree is rugged-looking, with hard, corky layers. 

 The inner, bark is reddish-brown, and displays on its inner surface the 

 lenticular appearance characteristic of the genus. One analysis of the bark 

 g-ave 13-5 per cent, of tannin, but many more experiments require to be 

 made before its value as a tanning material can be assessed with certainty. 



Timber. — It is a red timber when fresh, and has the peculiar blotchy' 

 markings common to most timbers of the Casuarinse. It is very fissile, and 

 hence is used for shingles. It is used to some extent for brush-backs and 

 for Tunbridge ware generally. It is useful for screws of handscrews, for 

 malting' gauges, rails, &c., of chairs, and for clean turnery. Other uses are 

 for bullock-yokes, mauls, and tool-handles. The Yarra (Victoria) blacks 

 are said to have made boomerangs of it. Its chief drawback is its tendency 

 to warp in drying, hence it is often used in veneers. It makes excellent fuel. 

 It is often used, unsawn, for rafters. 



ilr. District Forester Eotton, of Nowra, says it is 



used for shingles and bullock-yokes. Settlers sometimes use this timber for 

 rough furniture such as tables and stools. It is also used for pick and hammer 

 liandles ; is excellent fuel, and is often used by bakers, as it sends out great 

 teat and leaves little ash. 



