428 
Synonyms. Eugenia elliptica Sm., in Trans. Linn. Soc., iii, 281 not of Lam; 
Bot. Mag., t. 1872; Myrtus Smithii Spreng., Syst. ii, 487; Acmena jhribunda, var. B. 
DC. Prod., iii, 262; Bot. Mag., t. 5,480 (wrong as to the petals) ; Syzygium brachynemum 
F. Muell., Fragm. iv, 59 and PL, Viet. Suppl., t. 18 (the petals not quite correct); 
probably also Acmena Kingii, G. Don., Gard. Diet., ii, 851. 
It is therefore a species which has had a not entirely smooth botanical career. 
Flowers. The anthers with divaricate cells are, so far as hitherto observed, 
exceptional in the genus, as originally pointed out by Mueller. 
Fruit. The fruits are eaten by the aborigines and small boys. They are 
formed in profusion, are acidulous and wholesome. They are white with a purplish 
tint, and up to 1 inch in diameter. When they are ripe, one frequently notices that a 
large proportion of them have been pecked by birds, and no doubt they also provide 
sustenance to flying-foxes and other native animals. It is probable that every 
Australian Eugenia yields, or has yielded, food to the hungry blackfellow, but the follow- 
ing species undoubtedly have done so : E. cormiflora, whose fruit is called " Murro " by 
some Queensland blacks ; E. eucalyptoides, the " Endeavour River Pear," of Queensland, 
which has a pear-shaped fruit of about \\ inches hi length, and of a pinkish colour. 
It is a beautiful object, and of an agreeable flavour. E. myrtifolia is the well-known 
" Native Myrtle " or " Brush Cherry " often to be seen in gardens, where it forms a 
beautiful object when in fruit, which fruit can be eaten by a hungry white man. The 
Queensland E. Tierneyana also produces fruit in large quantities, and it is sometimes 
made into jam. For some others, see Bailey's " Queensland Flora." 
Timber. The Eugenias and some other myrtaceous timbers (" Myrtles," as 
they are generically called by many people) are only to be sparingly used for building 
purposes, as they are liable to dry-rot and white-ant. The lilly pilly does not yield 
the best timber of the genus, but it is a representative one, and it is very apt to split 
in seasoning. It is, however, a tough, hard wood, and is used for such purposes as 
axe-handles and tool-handles in general. Eugenia timbers have not, however, received 
careful investigation, and closer attention to them may show that they are more 
valuable than they have hitherto been considered. 
Bark. In the Sydney Mail of 10th January, 1891, I wrote as follows : 
Just a few words in conclusion as to the value of Lilly Pilly as a tan. In these colonies it is usually 
supposed that no trees produce tan-barks except Wattles, and that no Wattle-barks are worthy of attention 
except two or three of the best. I do not wish to underrate the importance of Wattles, and of course they 
are likely always to produce the great bulk of our tan material from wild or cultivated trees. In 
Tasmania, where Wattle-bark has for many years proved so valuable an article of export, the necessity 
has already arisen for falling back on the barks of other of our native trees, and Myrtle bark (Fwjus) has 
met with much acceptance. And in different parts of the colonies different tan-barks are used locally, 
the choice of which has not always been made with discrimination, for it requires much practice to gauge 
the value of tan-bark. Some few years ago I drew public attention to the value of Lilly Pilly bark for 
tanning, and the matter is well worthy of note. The trees attain a large size; they are often abundant, 
while the bark is of fair thickness. Most of the barks examined by me contained under 20 per cent, of 
