1 May, 1898.] “QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 409 
Forestry. 
SOME TIMBER TREES OF QUEENSLAND. 
No. 2. 
By J. W. FAWCETT, 
Member of the English Arboricultural Society. 
THE SWAMP MAHOGANY (ZUCALYPTUS ROBUSTIA, Sm.). 
Borantcan Descrietion.—The Swamp Mahogany is a fine, handsome, large 
tree growing to a height of from 80 to 100 feet, with a diameter of from 3 to 
5 feet, with many branches and a spreading head. 
Bark.—The bark is rough furrowed, scaly, sub-fibrous, and of a brownish 
colour. 
Leaves.—The leaves are usually alternate, large, ovate or somewhat egg- 
‘shaped, from 4 to 6 inches in length, very stiff and thick, and of a dark-green 
colour, with prominent parallel veins, the marginal one close to the edge. 
Flowers.—The flowers are large, of a white or creamy-white colour, from 
4 to 12 in number, on each angular or more or less flattened pedicel or flower- 
stalk. 
Fruit.——The fruit is ovoid-oblong in shape, smooth, and often more than 
half-an-inch in length. They seed or are ripe about May and June. 
Vernacunar and Borantcan Nawrs.—The Swamp Mahogany is also 
ealled the Brown Gum-tree. The name Mahogany was given to it in the early 
days of Australia from the resemblance which the timber was supposed to have 
to the tree Mahogany of Central America, to which, however, it is in no way 
allied. ‘The adjective Swamp is given to it from the situation in which it 
generally grows. ‘The name Brown Gum-tree was given to it either from the 
colour of the bark or from the brownish colour of the kino, or gum, which 
exudes from the tree. The family or generic name, Hucalyptus, has already 
been explained; the specific name robusta is a Latin word meaning firm, 
robust, strong, and was given to it by Sir J. B. Smith from the size and 
strength of the tree. : 
Disrripurron.—Che Swamp Mahogany is found in open forests, generally 
on low plains, in moist, marshy, or swampy localities in the coastal districts. 
Tt seems to thrive best in sour, wet ground near the sea-coast ; and where 
other Bucalypts look sickly in such places, this tree is always the picture of 
good health. In Queensland it is confined to the south-east corner of the 
colony, from the Brisbane River southwards to the borders of New ‘South 
Wales. Its principal localities are the Logan River, Nerang Creek, and 
Stradbroke Island. I have never met with it north of the Brisbane River. It 
is almost invariably found in company with the White Ti-tree (Melaleuca 
leucadendron, Linn.). Itis also found in the coastal districts of New South 
Wales. 
Uses.—Dhe Swamp Mahogany furnishes a strong ¢imber of a high quality, 
closely grained, and of a deep-red colour. It is difficult to split, and, for a 
hardwood, is rather brittle. It is generally considered, however, as not a very 
durable timber. It is considered a very good timber, and is much valued for 
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