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Botanical Name. — Loryphora, Greek, Doru (a spear), pliero (I bear), perhaps 
in allusion to the long appendage to the anther; sassafras, because its odour is 
reminiscent of that of the well-known Sassafras of North America. 
Vernacular Name. —Sassafras, or by ignorant people Sassafrax. Sometimes 
it is called Black Sassafras. Professor C. S. Sargent says that Sassafras was first 
used as a popular name by the French in Florida, and when the genus, which had 
been included by earlier botanists with Lauras, was distinguished by Necs ab 
Escnbeck, he adopted Sassafras as its name. 
I would suggest the name New South Wales Sassafras for Doryphora , as it is 
mainly developed in this State, Atherosperma , another Sassafras, being more 
abundant in Tasmania and Victoria, and Cinnamomum Olivieri in Queensland. 
Aboriginal Names. —The following are, or were, some of its New South 
Wales aboriginal names :—“ Caalang,” of those of Illawarra; “ Tdjeundegong,” of 
those of Brisbane Water; “ Boobin,” of those of the Northern districts of New 
South Wales. 
Leaves. —'The tree has dense bright glossy foliage and aromatic odour, 
filling the brushes with a delicious fragrance. 
Flowers. —-The flowers are pure white and star-like, forming a beautiful 
display in contrast to the dark, shining foliage. 
Bark .—This is our common New South Wales Sassafras, and tea is com¬ 
monly made from its bark at the present day in the coastal districts. The aromatic 
flavour is not unpleasant, although it requires practice to really like it. Besides a 
mere beverage, it is also used as a tonic medicine. The odour is rather fugacious. 
It is taken in the form of an infusion. Dr. T. L. Bancroft, however, informs the 
writer, “ I have tried the bark on frogs, and found it to be inert.” 
Timber. —If properly dried before being put into a building as a ceiling, 
lining, or flooring boards, it is a valuable timber, but it takes a long time to dry; 
it is not much used for joinery work, as it will not stand glueing. I know a chest 
of drawers the inside of which is made of it, and it is perfectly sound after thirty years, 
white ants will not touch it; it is now being tried as weather-boards, but I am afraid 
it will require a lot of paint, as it is so open-grained. It is sometimes used for 
packing-cases. It is of a canary yellow colour when quite fresh, but it becomes 
dirty looking with age. It is fragrant, and disagreeable to vermin. 
There is no question as to its durability in some situations. The following 
are extracts from three letters referring to it. In judging white-ant proof timbers 
one must bear in mind that white-ants, if put to it, will eat anything, but that the 
