“1 May, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 383 
Bark.—The bark is rough, and of a hoary-grey colour. 
_ _ Leaves.—The leaves of the Casuarinas are replaced by small whorled scales. 
‘In this species, the branchlets are usually pendulous and generally from 10 to 
12 in a whorl, but the parts vary from 9 to 16. 
Flowers.—The flowers are dioecious (7.e., the male flowers and the female 
‘flowers are borne on distinct plants). The male spikes are dense, and about 
-an inch in length. 
Fruit.—tThe fruit is a cone usually sub-globose (?.¢., not quite spherical), 
flat-topped, and about half-an-inch in diameter. 
VERNACULAR AND Borantcat Names.—Lhe Swamp Oak (so ealled from 
its general habitat), is also known as the River Oak or River She-Oak (also 
named from its habitats), Beefwood (from the likeness in colour of the timber 
to beef), Bull-Oak (on account of its robust appearance) ; Ironwood (from the 
hardness of its timber). The name “ Cassowary” tree has been applied to it 
from the likeness of the branchlets to the feathers of that bird. It is also 
known by the aborigine names (in New South Wales) of Belah or Belar, or 
Billa. The name “oak” was given (like many other names given to Australian 
‘trees, &c., by the earliest settlers, from some resemblance or likeness to those in 
England), because the timber when worked up had some resemblance to that 
-of the English Oak. The generic name, Casuarina, was given by Linneus to 
‘the genus on account of the pendant branchlets resembling the feathers of the 
-eassowary. The specific name, glauca, was given to this species by Mr. F. W. 
Sieber, a collector of Australian plants, on account of the hoary-grey colour of 
‘the tree. 
Disrriurron.—The Swamp Oak is widely distributed throughout Aus- 
tralia, and especially Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
Australia, preferring generally the margins of rivers and swamps, and marshy 
localities in open forest lands, but is nowhere found in forest-like patches. 
Usus.—The timber of the Swamp Oak is of a reddish colour, beautifully 
marked and very close-grained. It is also hard and durable, strong and tough, 
and is valuable, and much used for shingles and staves. It is also useful as a 
ceabinet wood. he straight saplings make splendid rafters for bush buildings, 
and old trees, with plenty of heartwood, make good posts, lasting well in the 
ground. All the Casuarinas are splendid trees for, planting. They are all of 
yery 1apid growth, and make good breakwinds, copses, or shelter plantations. 
The saplings are always useful for many other things besides the speedy supply 
-of excellent firewood which they give. These trees form one of the most striking 
features of the Australian landscape. Their leafless branches and black, 
gloomy, sombre appearance always make a sad impression on the traveller, and 
whenever there is a slight breeze there comes from them a dull, depressing 
sigh. They are remarkable as belonging to a class of trees which abounded 
in the forests of other countries in long-past geological ages, as 1s evidenced 
‘by the fossil remains frequently found in the coal measures. , A 
The Swamp Oak, besides being a quick grower, is a very beautiful tree if 
planted apart, its tall, straight-stemmed trunk and pendulous leafless branches 
showing well. . 
THE HORSE-TAIL OAK (CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLTA, Porst.). 
Borantcan Descrrerron.— The Horse-tail Oak is a lofty tree of 
moderately large size, attaining a height of from 50 to as much as 150 feet, 
with a diameter varying from L2 to 30 inches. 
Bark.—Vhe bark is rough. : 
vam Branches.—Uhe branches, which give it a very peculiar appearance, are 
long, slender, and wiry; the principal ones are spreading or ascending, the 
smaller ones generally pendulous or drooping. They are of a greyish-green 
colour, glabrous or tomentose when young, with very small scale-like sheaths 
dnstead of leaves. 
