60 NOTES ON APPARENTLY USEFUL WOODS 



the last in grain, but rather a duller brown colour, much used for roofs 

 of houses, &c. 



Bauhinia grandiflora, Juss. — A small tree, native of Peru, produces 

 an apparently durable close-grained wood, of a silvery brown, with dark 

 stripes, having a very rich appearance when polished. 



Copaifera officinalis Jaccp (Balsam of Copaiva). — A large tree, native 

 of the West Indian Islands. The wood is close and heavy, in colour of 

 a dusky brown, with dark stripes. Takes a good polish. 



Acacia verticillata, Willd. Prickly Mimosa of Tasmania, where it 

 grows to a height of 20 or 30 feet, and eight inches to one foot in dia- 

 meter. The wood appears tolerably close-grained and hard, of a lightish 

 colour, with dark brown markings. 



Acacia Cunningliami, Hook. — Also an Australian tree, producing a 

 fine-grained, close, and compact wood, of a light brown colour, with dark 

 stripes. 



Pimenta vulgaris, W. A. — A native of the West Indian Islands, a 

 common tree, growing to a height of 30 or 40 feet, producing a close- 

 grained wood, of a dusky brown colour, with dark stripes. 



Monotoca elliptica, R. Br. (Beech of New South Wales), but belonging 

 to the Epacris family. It is a small tree, from 10 to 20 feet high, and 

 6 to 12 inches in diameter, producing a very fine close-grained wood, of 

 a yellowish brown colour, much used for making handles for mallets and 

 other tools. 



Tecoma undulata, Don. — A native of India, where it grows to a 

 height of 20 or 30 feet, and produces a hard and close-grained wood, of 

 a lightish brown colour. 



Per sea gratissima, Gsertn. (Avocado Pear). — A native of Jamaica, but 

 naturalized in all the West Indian islands, and also in Madeira. It grows 

 to a large size, and produces a rather softish wood, of a brown colour, 

 very prettily marked, with a silvery lustre, making a fine appearance 

 when polished. 



Casuarina leptoclada, Miq. (River oi White Oak of New South 

 Wales), where it frequently grows to 120 feet high and 2 to 5 feet in 

 diameter. The timber is very strong, but will not bear exposure to the 

 weather. The colour is of a clear brown, with dark markings, taking 

 a good polish. 



Dark Woods of a Reddish Brown Colour. 



Platymiscium polystachium, Bth. (Roble of Trinidad). — A fine tree, 

 native of the West Indian Islands and Panama, producing a tough wood of 

 a light mahogany colour, with dark stripes, and a silvery transparent 

 grain. 



Copaifera bracteata. — A large tree of British Guiana, the wood of 

 which is very close-grained and compact, and has been suggested as a 

 substitute for rosewood in the fitting up of ships' cabins. 



