123 
Vernacular Names.— “ Whitewood ” and “ Cattle-bush ” are names of 
obvious meaning. As we have more than one “ Whitewood ” in this State, I propose 
to attempt to define it in some way by adding the prefix “ Western.” 
Aboriginal Name. —Mr. F. M. Bailey quotes Mr. Wedd as giving the 
name “ Boorbal,” current in the neighbourhood of St. George, Queensland. 
Synonym. — Thouinia hemiglauca, F. Muell., Fragm. i, 98, the name under 
which this tree was first described. 
Leaves. —The leaves of this tree are eaten by both cattle and sheep, the 
tree frequently being felled for their use during seasons of drought. 
Mr. F. B. Guthrie in Agricultural Gazette , October, 1899, has furnished 
the following analyses to illustrate their food value :— 
12. Whitewood 
Water. 
Ash. 
Fibre. 
Ether 
Extract 
(oil, &c.) 
Albu- 
menoids. 
Carbo¬ 
hydrates. 
Nutrient 
value. 
Albu- 
menoid 
ratio. 
Tannin 
(Oak bark). 
35-87 
6-27 
19-50 
119 
14-62 
22 55 
39f 
1 : 2 
1-3 
21. Whitewood 
37-55 
6-46 
22-05 
1-73 
11-63 
20-58 
36 
1 : 2 
1-2 
Bark. —It is scaly and friable. 
Timber. —A white or pale yellow, fairly close-grained, somewhat fissile 
timber. It is soft, and decays easily. It is but of little economic importance. 
Exudation. —It exudes a useful pale-coloured gum. 
I reported* as follows on a specimen:— 
Most of this gum is quite colourless, and adherent to pieces of the wood of the tree, which belongs 
to the natural order Sapindacese. A very small quantity only was received. It is readily soluble in cold 
water, from which solution alcohol throws down a white precipitate readily soluble in water but insoluble 
in alcohol, and resembling arabin in its properties. It is pure gum, and appears to differ little from the 
purest gum arabic. A portion of the gum is also attached to a covering of the exterior of the bore of a 
wood moth (probably a species of Cryptophasa) made of silken web, with castings and debris attached. 
This gum would be a valuable article of commerce if obtainable in quantity. 
I have seen gum exuded from Nephelium sp. (Northern Rivers), also from 
Cupania semiglauca, F.v.M., and Cupania pseudorrhus, A. Rich., the product being 
a hard, clear, yellowish, soluble gum in each case. 
A twig in the National Herbarium, in Leichhardt’s handwriting, bears the 
words, “ Head of the Gulf (of Carpentaria—J.II.M.). Eatable gum.” 
Size. —This is a small or medium-sized tree, of perhaps up to 30 or 40 feet 
in height, and with a trunk diameter of 8-12 inches. 
* “ Report Horn Expedition to Central Australia,” p. 196 
