184 ON SOME N.S.W. TAN-SU]lSTA^ T CES. 



are chiefly confine i to the Cape and other extra-tropical 



regions. 

 The tree from which these leaves and this bark were taken 



was cultivated in Sydney. Thy were obtained in the 



usual operation of pruning the tree in the winter. The 



bark was taken from large limbs thus removed 

 Particulars of the trees whence it was obtained — Height 30 



feet, diameter 20 inches. 

 Collected 20th July, 1887. Analysed: Leaves, 19th August to. 



8th September, 1887 ; Bark, 12th to 22nd September, 



1887. 



31. Bark. — Moderately smooth. Outer bark containing 

 innumerable small and shallow fissures ; the surface abundantly 

 marked with small reddish-brown scars, disposed transversely, and 

 about a line long. Outer bark dark grey to black, peeling off in 

 flakes. Colour of inner bark reddish, and containing poor fibre. 

 Average thickness of bark j inch. From the cut ends a brownish 

 viscid resin exudes, forming an inferior lacquer.* Colour of bark 

 when powdered, brown with a shade of red. Intermediate in 

 colour between the barks of B. integrifolia and B. serrata. 



The day this bark was gathered it was put in the water-bath. 

 By the 2nd August its weight was found to be constant. The 

 following was the result : 



Weight green ... ... 53*149 gms. 



Weight dry 22-369 „ 



Loss 30-78 

 .-. Loss of moisture on drying = 57*912 per cent. 

 Extract. — It yields 44-79 per cent, to water at 100° C. Colour 



of solution rich ruby ; of moist residue Vandyke brown. 



Tannic acid — 23'15 per cent.; a percentage shewing this to be 



worthy of attention as a bark, irrespective of the use of the leaves. 



The following particulars in regard to the barks kc. of other 

 species of Rhus (not Australian) will be interesting : — 



Rhus Cotinus (Fustic or Venetian Sumach) — Bark aromatic and 

 astringent ; used as a febrifuge, and in tanning. The fruit is 

 eaten by the Turks. This tree, however, is chiefly valuable as a dye. 



Rhus toxicodendron. — From the bark of this tree exudes a milky 

 volatile, very acrid juice, the touch of which, or even an exhalation 

 of it, frequently brings on violent erysipelas. See Proc. R. S., 

 Tasmania, 1886, for an account of the severe injury which some 



* The barks of several Asiatic species yield lacquers, especially it. 

 vernicifera, so much used for the purpose in Japan. See the exhaustive 

 " Eeport of Her Majesty's Acting Consul at Hakodate, on the Lacquer- 

 industry of Japan." (British Consular Reports, Japan, No. 2, 1882.) 



