204 ON SOME N.S.W. TAN-SUBSTANCES. 



52. Banksia serhata, Linn, f., N. O. Proteacere, B. Fl. v., 556. 

 Figure Curtis' Botanic Magazine, t. 2671. 



Found in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queens- 

 land. 



Vernacular Names — c * Beefwood," •• Honeysuckle." 



Locality whence this particular specimen was obtained — A 

 quarter of a mile to the west of Oatley's Platform, 

 Illawarra Line. 



Geological Formation — Sandstone. 



Part of the Tree Examined — Bark. 



Particulars of the tree whence it was obtained — Height 20' 

 feet, (but of most irregular shape) ; diameter 10 inches. 



Collected 23rd July, 1887. Analysed 12th to 30th September,, 

 1887. 



Outer surface of bark a mass of tubercles, with an average 

 diameter of | inch each. The tubercles show a greater or less, 

 tendency to shell in concentric layers. Outer surface dark grey. 

 This bark when cut had all the appearance of fresh beef, in fact 

 the fresh bark far more deserves the epithet of "beef" than the 

 wood, which usually receives it. The rich red sap of the bark 

 poured out at every stroke of the tomahawk, splashing freely.. 

 Even now when dried it has a reddish colour. Average thickness 

 -| inch. Colour of powder reddish-brown. 



Two days after collection this bark was put in the water-bath 

 Weight green ... ... 65*789 grins. 



Weight dry at 100° C, ... 26-668 



&■ 



Loss 39-121 

 Showing loss of moisture on drying of 59*46 per cent. 



Extract. — Yields 27*38 per cent, to water at 100° C. Colour 

 of solution rich ruby ; of moist residue Sienna-brown. (Of the- 

 same tint as A. longifolia, Oakley's). 



Tannic acid, 23*25 per cent. 



Baron Mueller gives the result of an analysis of this bark at 

 10*8 per cent, of tannin. In the absence of any particulars as to 

 the tree which yielded the bark referred to by Baron Mueller, I 

 am unable to offer any explanation with regard to the apparent 

 lack of agreement between the analyses. With regard to my 

 specimen, however, I would point out that it was cut at a season 

 most favourable for a high yield of tannin, and (which was also 

 doubtless the case in Baron Mueller's specimen), I repeated the 

 analysis three times on as many separate pieces of bark, with 

 closely agreeing results. 



