270 R. T. BAKER. 



There is another remarkable feature about this wood, 

 and that is its resistance to splitting radially, for it is 

 impossible to so split a log say three feet or more in length. 

 Tangentially it is much more fissile, and in this direction 

 it is more easily split than any other timber known to me. 

 The aborigines were cognisant of this character, as shown 

 by their preference for it for shield making. 



(d) Histology — Primary or Early, and Secondary T^ood. 

 Many sections were made for examination, and from these, 

 typical samples showing the structure during different 

 periods of growth are here figured and described. 



Primary or Early Wood. 



(a) This is a transverse section of ultimate branchlet 



measuring 2*5 mm. in diameter. (Plate XXXIX, 

 figure 13.) 



(b) A larger twig than (a) measuring 4*5 mm. (Plate 



XL, figure 14). 



(c) Showing older growth than the two previous ones, 



measuring 6 mm. in diameter. (Plate XLI, figure 

 15). 



(a) Figure 13. This may be described as almost quadri- 

 lateral in transverse section, the bundles being parallel 

 to the shape of the outer edge of cortex in a continuous 

 line removed from it about one-third of the diameter, 

 and enclosing the central mass of thin wall structure 

 (hexagonal in section). The space between the cortex and 

 the bundles is composed of a smaller irregularly shaped 

 structure of loose parenchyma, most of the cells near the 

 edge containing a substance not determined, and forming 

 the pro-cortex. 



(b) Figure 14. This section shows an advanced stage of 

 growth upon that of (a). The central mass of vessels, etc. 

 forms a much less proportion of the whole, the bundles are 



