125 
TRISTANIA. SYNCARPIA. 
and longitudinal 
like a bell with 
Mature wood 
purposes. 
openings. Ripe seed-cup nearly !4in. wide by 5/16in. deep, shaped 
broad mouth, 3-celled, with open valves about even with rim. 
tough, strong, durable, likely to be of great value for technical 
o 4 T'™ n f ert f‘ m ^ keS . Vei T beautiful single specimens, and is much used in New 
South Wales tor planting m streets and parks. 
CULTIVATION IN NEW ZEALAND. 
A few young trees have been noted about Auckland and in Hawke’s Bay. 
Further plantings should be made in all warm districts so as thoroughly to test the 
suitability of this beautiful and valuable tree for cultivation in this country. 
. bbe g enei i c name Tristania was given in honour of a French botanist named 
lustan, confci tci refers to the crowding of the leaves at the ends of the twigs. The 
species has several bushmen s names, of which the one most frequently used is 
perhaps brush box . Our policy in this and in every other case should be to use 
and to teach the botanical name as constantly and as exclusively as possible. 
SYNCARPIA LAURIFOLIA Tenore. 
NATURAL HABITAT, DESCRIPTION, AND USES. 
The species is widely distributed in north-eastern New South Wales and 
southern Queensland, and appears to be at its optimum in deep gullies containing 
good soil. Maiden in Forest Flora (Vol. i. 27) states that “from 120 to 180 feet 
is no uncommon height for this tree to attain.” Girths are large in proportion, 
and the boles are said to be often clear of branches up to 80ft. or 90 ft. The dead 
bark is flaky, fibrous, persistent, and ultimately thick. The leaves are stalked, 
about 3in. long by lin. or more wide, and somewhat wavy. The flowers are on 
peduncles in rounded heads with their calyces or seed-vessels firmly grown 
together, the number in each head being five to seven or more. Each individual 
flower has four or rarely five petals and a corresponding number of lobes or sepals. 
The stamens are numerous and radiating; anthers with parallel and longitudinal 
openings. The ripe seed-cups appear as if firmly set in wax or cement with upper 
part and lobed rims projecting away from the common centre. The generic name 
Syncarpia is formed from the Greek sun together and karpos a fruit, and was 
suggested by this remarkable union of the calyces in the flower head. The specific 
name of course means laurel-leaved. 
The mature wood is red to dark red or dark brown, according to the age and 
degree of maturity of the trees. At the best red stage it is tough and very durable 
either in the ground or in water. It has long been in favour for wharf piling, the 
piles being usually driven with the bark on as an extra resistant to the marine 
borers. On the resistant value of the bark there is diversity of opinion. The 
question is one for marine engineers. 
CULTIVATION IN NEW ZEALAND. 
A few specimens were doing well in the Mount Albert Railway Reserve when 
the plantation there was cut down some years ago. One or two others have been 
noted about Mount Eden. But no competent and systematic effort has yet been 
