136 
as the orthography is concerned, this expresses the same pronunciation as the 
aboriginal name of a totally different tree, the Bunya-Bunya ( Araucaria Bidwilli), 
of Queensland. 
Synonym .—Tetranthera dealbata, R.Br., Prod., 403. 
Leaves. —These are handsome, being jiale underneath, and with prominent 
venation. Mr. Sydney W. Jackson has drawn attention to the fact that in Northern 
Queensland they form one of three species of leaves most frequently used by the 
Tooth-billed Bower Bird ( Scenopeeetes denUrostris ) in their playgrounds. (See 
The Emu for October, 1910, Plate IX.) 
The leaves of an allied Litsea ( L . glaucescens, H.B.K., var.) are much used 
in flavouring meats, soups, &c., in Mexico. They can be found in the little stores 
and markets everywhere. The plant is also considered to have some medicinal 
virtues. The leafy branches are gathered in bundles and dried. The crushed 
leaves are very fragrant and aromatic. It is a small glabrous shrub with narrow 
lanceolate leaves, pale green above, whitish beneath, and thickly covered with small 
pellucid dots. It grows high up on the mountains. 
A tea made from the leaves is taken for colds. The plant is, however, more 
largely used as a flavouring. ( Contrib. U.S. Nat. Herb., Yol. v, No. 4.) 
Fruit. —The fruit is of a reddish-purple colour, and of an aromatic odour. 
Bark. —Many of the Javanese species of Lauraceae contaiu, in addition to 
other not yet clearly-defined bases, a crystalline alkaloid termed laurotetanine, 
which has a strong tetanic action on animals. It is contained in quantity in the 
cortex of the stem of Litscea chri/socoma, Bl., and is sparingly soluble in ether, more 
readily in chloroform. (Greshoff, Ber. xxiii, 3,537; Journ. Chem. Soc., lx, 337.) 
See also So/m, p. 60. It would appear desirable for at least our common Litscea 
( L . dealbata, Nees) to be carefully examined. 
Timber.— Timber pale-coloured, almost white, fissile, with a small neat 
grain, tough, somewhat aromatic when newly cut. I am satisfied that it is a useful 
timber. 
Size. —It is usually a slender little tree, a sapling, but in favourable 
circumstances it may attain the dignity of a large tree. 
Following are sizes given by different observers.— YVingham, Manning River, 
an exceptional tree 20 inches in diameter and 60 feet high (A. Rudder). Bellinger 
River, a slim tree of 20 feet (E. H. F. Swain) ; Acacia Creek, a tree of 20-30 feet 
(W. Dunn), while J. L. Boorman in the same district found some with girths of 
4-8 feet and height of 60-80 feet. 
