162 
Bftl'k. -Rough, dark-coloured bark near the butt, but smooth and of a 
much lighter colour on the upper part and branches. 
Timber. An old official catalogue of the Forests Branch of the Department 
of Mines says : 
. " Timber hard and close-grained, liable to split, and subject to gum-veins. Used 
for naves of wheels, blocks, &c." But I think this report, which has been often reprinted, 
exaggerates its importance. 
Mr. G. Stirling Home, who had experience in the Lake Cudgellico district, however, 
calls it a useless timber, and says the trees cannot be killed by ringing. He informed 
me that in the Lachlan district this timber is not considered to have any economic 
value. It is palish in colour, of a yellowish tint. 
In a Queensland official publication it is described as red-brown, hard and close- 
grained, and its uses are stated for " turnery, and perhaps for small parts of cabinet 
work." Its timber does not seem to have any economic importance at the present 
time. 
Size. A small tree, with a height of 20-30 feet, and a stem diameter of 
10-12 inches. 
An Excellent Shade Tree. The Wilga is one of our best shade trees in the Western 
district. It is also the one that stands extreme drought better than any other, not 
excepting the Kurrajong. When in blossom or seed the ants frequent it, but at other 
seasons they avoid it, so that one can camp under it and not be pestered with insects. 
Mr. (now Rev.) G. S. Home, speaking of the Lake Cudgellico district, says 
it is said to be the only tree in the district that ants will not climb, consequently a 
workman, where possible, always leaves his swag on its branches, and it remains free 
from their attacks. 
Another writer speaks of it as a very handsome, dense spreading, pendulous 
shade tree, resembling the common wild olive (Olea europcea) in foliage and habit of 
growth, and well worthy of cultivation as an ornamental tree. 
Habitat. Following are the localities quoted in the Flora Australiensis. 
Queensland. Broad Sound (R. Brown) ; Burdekin River (F. Mueller) ; Belyando River (Mitchell). 
New South Wales. Liverpool Plains (A. Cunningham); Narran River (Mitchell); between the 
Darling and Lachlan Rivers (Victorian Expedition). 
Victoria. Murray Desert (F. Mueller). 
South Australia. Near Adelaide (Herb. Hooker) ; Spencer's Gulf (F. Mueller) ; South Coast (R. 
Brown); Isles of St. Francis (Herb. Mus. Par.). 
Western Australia. King George's Sound (Maclean). 
(The tree of South and Western Australian localities was supposed to form a 
variety, as already stated.) 
