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No. 14. Part IV. 
Melaleuca leucadendron 9 Linn. 
THE BROAD-LEAVED TEA-TREE. 
(Natural Order Myrtace^e.) 
Varieties.—See vol. i, p. 91. 
Local botanists will be interested to know that the following forms are in the 
National Herbarium, Sydney. Banks and Solander plants (kindly presented by the 
Trustees of the British Museum)—(a) The form figured at t. 112 of Mr. Britten’s 
work; (h) M. vivid ijlora, Soland, the plant figured at t. 113 of Mr. Britten’s work; 
(c) 31. sanguinea, Sol. MSS.; (d) 31. ruscifolia, Sol. MSS. There is also a specimen 
of 31. vividiflova, Gaertn., collected by Robert Brown; also specimens of Mr. F M. 
Bailey’s varieties lancifolia and Cunninghamii, sent by that gentleman. 
Aboriginal names.—See vol. i, p. 92. 
Following is a note by Mr. J. D. Lord, Public School, Numha, in regard to 
my suggestion that the township may he named after the tree. 
The name Nuraba is generally spelt with a final double “a”—“Numbaa,” and is most certainly an 
aboriginal word ; I have often discussed this very name with old settlers, who are more or less acquainted 
with the early naming of this district, but no two agree. 
Numba has little or no sandy soil, but out “ Warri Warri ’’—(this word, I always think, is wrongly 
spelt, more likely a final “a” instead of “ i “Warra Warra” means rain),—there are miles of sand ; 
I have often seen the Broad-leaved Tea-tree growing as I passed along. Again, on “ Comarong Island,” 
between Numba and the sea, I find sand and the Tea-trees. 
It may he of course that the township was named Numha after the trees, 
although Numha trees may not he on the exact site of the township. 
Leaves.—See vol. i, p. 92. 
The young leaves are bruised in water and drunk for headaches, colds, and general sickness. 
Mitchell, etc., River.—(North Queensland Ethnography, Bulletin No. 5, Dr. Roth.) 
Bark and Timber.—See vol. i, p. 90. 
Tea-tree {Melah uca leucadendron, var. lancifolia). —A fairly large tree, having a white spongy 
bark, in very thin paper-like layers. There are numerous varieties, most of which may be used for the 
purposes mentioned below. The leaves of this variety are stiff and sharply-pointed. Wood of a grey colour. 
Used for piles and underground work (without removal of bark); and, when thus completely 
buried in the ground for drainage purposes, they have been known to last a number of years. When 
barked, the saplings are often used in the round for rafters, Ac., in outbuildings, and last a long 
time.—( Catal. Queensland Forestry Museum, 1904.) 
Melaleuca bucadendron, Linn., and other species—strips of the bark for binding with—a very 
common material for this.—(North Queensland Ethnography, Bulletin No. 1, Dr. Roth.) 
In Bulletin No. 2 the aboriginal name “ Bo-du ” is given. 
The natives of Cape York smoke this bark when they cannot obtain tobacco.—(Yeitch.) 
The timber splits fairly well, and is largely used for firewood at Ballina, 
Richmond River, N.S.W.—(J.H.M.) 
ILLUSTRATION. 
Photo, of a tree taken by Mr. H. King, in 1899, in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. It was planted 
by the late H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, when a midshipman on H.M.S. “ Bacchante,” in 1881 
