9 
which Dr. Leichhardt passingly mentions under the name of C. villosa in the diary 
of his famous journey overland to Port Essington, p. 49 (1847), as occurring on 
Robinson’s Creek at Expedition Range. Still, Mr. Bailey justly observes that this 
appellation is misleading, the bark, though very fibrous, not being villous in the 
accepted scientific sense of that term. It is remarkable that this tree should have 
escaped notice since Leichhardt’s time— a fact demonstrating how much yet needs to 
be done for the further investigation of the Australian flora, even in long-settled 
districts, for which researches pharmaceutical gentlemen more especially should 
render every local aid. {Op. cit .) 
The reference to C. villosa is in “Journal of an overland exjjedition in 
Australia from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, during the years 1844-1845,” by 
Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt. At p. 47, he refers to “ a new species of forest oak, which 
deserves the name of Casuarina villosa, for its bark looks quite villous.” He was 
collecting on Robinson’s Creek, South Queensland, a day or two before arriving at 
his Expedition Range. 
C. corniculata , E.v.M., is a West Australian species. 
Botanical Name. — Casuarina, already explained, see p. 79, Part XIII; 
mophloia, from the two Greek words in, inos, fibre and pliloia bark—the fibre-bark. 
Vernacular Names. —It is called “ Thready-barked Oak,” and likewise 
“ Stringy-bark Oak.” Mr. Andrew Murphy calls it “Porcupine Oak,” and says the 
name is owing to numerous prickles ^ inch to 1 inch long, set downwards. Stroking 
the bark upwards, one encounters the prickles, and not if rubbed downwards. The 
word “porcupine,” however, gives an exaggerated idea of the rigidity and coarseness 
of the individual fibres of the bark; but perhaps, reference is also made to the raised 
medullary rays. 
Bark. —The bark is very remarkable. It is looser than that of the Stringy- 
barks ( Eucalyptus ), and a mass of material like pine-needles could readily be pulled 
off the bark. So readily separable are these outer layers of the bark that it is difficult 
to convey a log far without rubbing off these fibrous layers, unless special steps be 
taken to protect the bark by wrappers. The fibrous bark reminds one distantly of 
Kitool fibre ( Caryota urens ), an Indian palm. 
Timber. —Rich red or purple brown. It has the largest medullary rays in 
the genus. 
Mr. Bailey writes of this species in his “ Catalogue of the Woods of Queens¬ 
land.”— (Melb. Exhib., 1888) 
Wood, very beautiful, of a reddish colour, but with numerous dark marks. 
These dark marks arc the medullary rays, which appear in the cross-section 
as thick dark lines from just above 1 to l£mm. in thickness, radiating from the 
centre to the bark and penetrating even half-way through the fibrous bark, where 
