439 
Ovary about twice as long as the calyx, broadly fcurbinate, depressed in the centre, consisting of 
twenty to thirty or rather more carpels, the ovules in alternate carpels inserted near the top or about the 
middle of the cavity, so as to give the appearance of biseriate cells or carpels. 
Styles or stigmas shortly conical and soon wearing off or falling off in a ring. 
Fruit obconical or obovoid, much less expanded at the top and much less depressed in the centre 
than in 0. australis (B.F1., v, 149, 1870). 
Following is the original description of this plant : 
A new and genuine species of Gyrostemon, Gyrostemon punyens (Lindl. MSS.), foliis rhomboideia 
acutis glaucis in petiolum augustatis. The capsules are arranged in a single verticillus, and consequently 
this species will belong to Gyrostemon, as distinguished from Codonocarpus by Mr. Endlicher. (Mitchell's 
"Three Expeditions," ii, 121.) 
Botanical Name. Codonocarpus from the Greek Kodon (codon), a little bell, 
and carpos, a fruit, owing to the shape of the same ; cotinifolius, resembling in foliage 
that of the genus Cotinus. 
Vernacular Names. It has a peculiar and somewhat pungent odour, and 
this pungency extends to the taste, chiefly of the young foliage, but also of the bark. 
This attracted the attention of the discoverer (Sir Thomas Mitchell) who likened it to 
Horse-radish. Country people term it " Mustard Tree or Bush," or " Horse-radish 
Tree," and also compare the odour to turnips. Carrying on the same train of thought,' 
less informed people call it "Quinine Tree" and "Medicine Tree." Because of the 
appearance of the tree, and perhaps of the lightness of the wood, it is often known as 
" Native Poplar." 
Aboriginal Name. The only aboriginal name I know is that of " Cucurdie," 
given by the late K. H. Bennett, a well-known observer in the Ivanhoe, via Hay, 
district, New South Wales. 
Synonyms. Gyrostemon cotinifolius Desf., in Mem. Mus., viii, 116, t. 110; 
Moq., in DC. Prod., xiii, ii, 39; G. pungens Lindl., in Mitch., Three Exped., ii, 121; 
G. acaciceformis F.v.M. in LinncBa xxv, 439. 
Leaves. Mr. Oswald McMaster wrote to me in 1896 
Shiub 15 feet high, has yellow curly and very brittle roots, and I fear may one day be a very great 
nuisance to agriculturists, as the roots spread very rapidly in broken ground, and each part grows very 
freely of its own accord. It has a dark green leaf, of which horses and cattle eat a little in very bad 
seasons, but do not care for it. It is also subject to ravages of insect pests, which eat every leaf of! in some 
seasons. 
Six years later another correspondent, Mr. B. Good, wrote from Bourke 
A small tres or shrub, that grows luxuriantly on red ground about 15 miles south-west from here. 
It is called the " Mustard Tree," owing to its tasting like mustard ; it grows like a Fir-tree, tapering to the 
top; the wood is very soft and sappy, and when fully matured attains a height of about 15 feet, and at 
its base 6 to 8 inches in circumference; is an evergreen and seeds to a great extent; appears to thrive 
Ix-st on open ground away from other trees or shrubs, for where an odd tree of it is growing with trees 
of u different class, it (the" Mustard Tree) is stunted in growth. Further, its seeds produce plants quickly 
