51 



. Following is an early note on Ironbarks : — 



Every being renews its epidermis (or the appendages thereof) occasionally, cither periodically and 

 all at once — as snakes — or more gradually — as in the moulting of birds and other animals — while in the 

 case of some animals with naked skins, this process is in continual operation, scales being constantly 

 thrown off. Among vegetables also, we find analogous processes; in some cases — dependent on the 

 renewal of the composing members and the death of others — the bark is shed gradually, that is, the outer 

 portion slowly decays, so that its thickness remains nearly invariable ; but in other instances, and 

 dependent upon the same conditions, the whole bark is shed annually and almost simultaneously, as in 

 many Eucalypti, some of which, however, come under the former category, though in some species the 

 process proceeds so slowly that the baik acquires an immense thickness, as in E. sideroxylon, a condition 

 probably due to the vast amount of antiseptic gum which pervades it. To meet this order of things, the 

 bark being sometimes 15 inches in thickness, the bark cracks longitudinally, so that the trunk is markcel 

 by raised ridges and intervening deep grooves, which proceed in an interruptedly spiral manner from the 

 ground to the head of the tree. (MSS. of Augustus Oldfield, circa 1864, pp. 452-3). 



Ironbarks have corrugated, indurated barks, either grey or black externally. 

 They include E. paniculata (White or Grey Ironbark), with pale-coloured timber, and 

 the commonest Ironbark about Sydney. E. siderophloia (Broad-leaved Ironbark) 

 with coarse foliage, found in the western suburbs and further afield, especially on the 

 Northern Rivers, and also in western New South Wales, a glaucous form. E. crebra 

 (Narrow-leaved Ironbark), has pendulous foliage and is widely diffused over New 

 South Wales. Both this and the preceding one are known fs Red Ironfcaiks from the 

 colour of their timber. E. welanophloia (Silver-leaved Ircnbaik) is a somewhat 

 straggly tree, found chiefly in the north-west of New South Wales, in regions of low 

 rainfall ; it does not occur near Sydney. E. sideroxylon is found in the Sydney district 

 to the south, sparingly, but chiefly on the western slopes of the State. There are other 

 species, of less importance. The Ironbarks attain their greatest development in New 

 South Wales, but three which do not occur. in that State are endemic to Queensland. 



Following are the Ironbarks : — 



E. Beyeri R. T. Baker. 

 E. Caleyi Maiden. 

 E. crebra F.v.M. 

 E. Culleni Cambage. 

 E. decorticans Bailey. 

 E. drepanophylla F.v.M. 

 E. melanophloia F.v.M. 

 E. paniculata Sm. 

 E. siderophloia Benth. 

 E. sideroxylon A. Cunn. 

 E. Staigeriana F.v.M. 



E. Beyeri R. T. Baker. 

 A typical Ironbark found, as far as we know, in a limited area a few miles west 

 of Sydney. Bark hard, heavy, very thick, permeated with kino. 

 H 



