MYSOEE ANT)COOT!G. 317 



stand-in the Lai Bagh. These trees have attained 

 a height of 80 feet, and are about 32 years of age. 

 A few cones are occasionally produced on one of 

 the trees, but the seeds contained in them appear to 

 be imperfect. For fuller information relating to 

 this important species, the reader is referred to the 

 folloAving paragraph by Mr. "Walter Hill of 

 Brisbane: — 



" A noble tree, inhabiting the scrubs in the dis- 

 trict between Brisbane and the Burnett Rivers. 

 In the 20th parallel, it grows thickly over a portion 

 of country, in extent about 30 miles long and by 12 

 broad. The tree has a very singular appearance, 

 the trunk is quite straight ; its bark is thick and 

 smooth ; the branches are produced in whorls of 

 six, seven or eight ; they are horizontal, inflexed, 

 and ascending at the extremities. From the style 

 of growth, singular foliage, and peculiar fresh 

 colour, when surrounded with other trees of a differ- 

 ent habit and greyish, tint, it produces a fine effect, 

 from the striking contrast presented by its rigid 

 growth, and fresh green lance-shaped leaves. The 

 wood is not only very strong and good, but it is 

 full of beautiful veins, and capable of being polished 

 and worked with the greatest facility. The cones 

 produced on the extreme upper branches, with 

 their apex downwards, are large, measuring 9 to 12 

 inches in length, and 10 inches in diameter ; on 

 coming to maturity they rapidly shed their seeds, 

 which are 2 to 2i inches- long by 1 inch broad, 

 sweet before being perfectly ripe, and after that 

 resemble roasted chestnuts in taste. In accordance 

 with regulations issued by the Grovernment, the tree 

 is not allowed to be cut down by those who are 

 licensed to fall timber on the Crown lands, the fruit 

 being used as food by the aboriginals. The trees 

 produce some cones every year, but the principal 

 b^.rvest happens only everj three yes^rs, when the 



