211 



The following- note by Mj. E. T. Baker in regard to timber passing under 

 the name of " She Beech " will be found useful : — ■ 



There has Iour been a doubt as to the exact botanical determination of tljo 

 marketable timber passing under the name of "She Beech." Many authors 

 have referred it to, Crvptocarya r/liaucescens, E.Br., and specimens of limber 

 exhibited in International Exhibitions, and now in the Technological Jluseuni, 

 were labelled with the latter name queried; but I think now the matter can be 

 definitely settled, as I have acquired botanical (timber and flowering) speci- 

 mens from Gosford, port Macquarie, and Lismore, and without doubt " She 

 Beech" is Tciranifiera reticulata. Meissn. 



The timber of Ciyptocarya (ilauccsccns is quite distinct, being much lighter 

 in colour, more durable, and with little or no figure, as against the rich brown 

 colour and large figure of T. reticulata. 



" She Beech " timber is, I find, also being sold in the Sydney market imder 

 the name of " Bully or " Bolly Gum," so that we have the timber merchants 

 selling to an unsuspecting public apparently two distinct timbers, but 'vhich 

 are in reality from one and the same species, i.e., T. reticulata. (Proc. Linn. 

 ISOG. X.S.W., Vol. xxii, 1897, p. 2.3.j.) 



Leaves. — ^Attention is drawn to the somewhat rigid, leathery leaves. 



Barh. — Slightly rough and cracked, otherwise a smooth-barked tree as 

 are most of the Lauraceae. 



Timher. — Pale coloured, very fissile, tough, with almost a fibrous frac- 

 ture ; rather hard when fresh ; exhibits a neat grain. 



Sir William Macarthur's original description of the tree (from Brisbane 

 Water) was : — " A magnificent tree, producing a soft, white, but useful 

 wood." 



The Queensland Forestry Museum catalogue gives its chief uses as: 

 Joinery, cabinet-work, packing-eases, staves (for which it is extensively 

 used), and for inside work of buildings as a substitute for Pine. 



Mr. G. E. Brown says that, in the Port Macquarie district, it is used for 

 lining boards, like sassafras (Doryphora). 



See also under " Vernacular l^ames." 



Size. — A rather large tree. Trees 60 to 80 feet in height, with a diameter 

 of 2 to nearly 3 feet, are not uncommon. 



Sir William Macarthur gave the height of trees at Brisbane Water a'^ 

 70 to 80 feet, and a diameter of 2 feet. 



Propagation. — Like most of the LHsceas, a beautiful shade tree for the 

 warmer, moigter parts of this State; it requires shelter and good soil. 



Habitat. — This is a coastal brush tree, occurring from Eockingham. Bay, 

 Queensland, to the Hawkesbury Eiver, New South Wales. Further search 

 will doubtless extend the recorded range. 



In the '' Flora Australiensis " B.Fl. v, 306), we have the following: — 

 Queensland. — Rockingham Bay (Dallachy) ; Sydney woods (probably from 



Brisbane River, should be "Water"), Paris Exhibition, 1S55 (Macarthur, n, 



24, 102.) 



I have it also in the Herbarium from the following intermediate localities 

 going north : — 



Tuggerali Lakes (F. Gordon) ; near Tinonee, height 60 feet, diameter 

 20 inches (Augustus Eudder) ; Port Macquarie, " Scaly or Yellow Beech " 

 (G. E. Brown) ; Woolgoolga Creek (E. H. F. Swain). 



