LACE-BARK 



with coarse, hard bodies and exhibiting the continuations of the 

 rays in transverse section. 



Uses, etc. A very showy furniture and turner's wood. 



Authorities. Scott-Elliott & Raisin (107). Henfrey's Botany, 

 3rd ed., p. 225. Kew (56). 



Colour. Deep red like dried blood, with chalky lines. No 

 distinction between sap- and heart-wood. 



Anatomical Characters. Transverse section :— 



Pores. Conspicuous on account of their size and whitish con- 

 tents, size 1-2, uniform except within the groups but increasing 

 in average size as the tree ages : in subdivided groups of 2-5 

 whitish pores mostly in threes : few, 1-6 per sq. mm. : many 

 rilled with a whitish substance and a few with red gum, but lor 

 the most part empty. 



Rays. Need lens, fine, size 6, finer than in any other species 

 observed : very many, 5-8 per mm. : sinuous often 3 to the 

 pore-width : not avoiding the pores. 



Rings. Doubtful. 



Soft-tissue. Very clear in innumerable, fine, close, concentric, 

 undulating, continuous lines rather lighter in colour than the 

 ground- tissue and 1-2 per mm. 



Pith. Large, about J inch diameter, hard, rather lighter in 

 colour than the wood. 



Radial Section. Pores ; coarse grooves, very conspicuous when 

 filled with the whitish deposit which gives the wood its remark- 

 able character. Rays; vague, shadowy, minute flakes. Soft- 

 tissue in close, fine, regular, vertical lines. 



Tangential Sections. The soft-tissue appears in the form of 

 beautiful waved or zigzag lines : pale and inconspicuous though 

 readily visible. Plate XXI, Fig. 174. 



Type specimens from commercial sources, except one from 

 the Governor of Lagos, which is authenticated only as regards 

 its local name. 



This species is usually confused by name with No. 170. 



No. 7. LACE-BARK. Plagianthus betulinus. 



A. Cunn. 



Plate I. Fig. 8. 



Natural Order. Malvaceas. 



Source of Supply. New Zealand only. 



Alternative Names. Houi (A.G.). Powhiwhi (12). 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry- weight, 36 1 lbs. per 

 cu. ft. Hardness Grade 7, compare Spruce. Smell ? My 

 specimens smell musty, but I suspect that this arises from the 

 presence of decay in the sap-wood. Taste little if any. Burns 



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