54 



7. — YATE (Etic. cornuta). 



A tree attaining a height of 50 to 60 feet, with a bole of 25 to 35 feet, and 

 diameter of three feet. 



The bark is persistent, dark, rough, and of dirty, untidy appearance on the 

 trunk; it peels off the branches, often hanging down in strips, leaving the branches 

 white like those of the karri. This species is easy to recognise by its flowers. 

 These are united in dense clumps on short stalks. The buds are almost one inch 

 long and very narrow, and are pointed like horns. The filaments (or coloured 

 part) are a yellowish-white colour, and the flowers when fully out resemble fluffy 

 balls of about two inches in diameter. The fruits are united (or apparently so) 

 in clusters of about eight, and have sharp points at their ends. 



Weight per cubic foot (green) — 791bs. 



At 12 per cent, moisture — Tllbs. 



Transverse strength — 16,7001bs. per square inch. 



Tensile strength — 24,2001bs. per square inch. 



This species yields a light-coloured timber of exceptional strength. It is pro- 

 bably the strongest timber in the world, and in one test for tensile strength the 

 breaking load was lT 1 /^ tons per square inch, 3% tons less than that usually 

 specified for wrought iron of ordinary quality. It is used for wheelwright work 

 generally, and is preferred where the strongest shafts for frames of carts are 

 required. It occurs at Busselton, Donnelly River coast, Lake Muir, and Mount 

 Barker district. That it is not used more generally is due to the fact that it is 

 found in open savannah forests at a distance from centres of population. 



