1 Ocr., 1899. | QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 417 
Forestry. 
SOME TIMBER TREES OF QUEENSLAND, 
By J. W. FAWCETT, 
Member of the English Arboricultural Society. 
THE SILVER-LEAVED IRONBARK (Lucalyptus melanophloia, F. v. M.) 
Borantcan Drscrrerion.—The Silver-leaved Ivonbark is a medium-sized 
tree, attaining a height of from 30 to 60 or 70 feet, with a diameter of from 
18 to 24 inches or more, and having a somewhat stunted appearance, the 
trunk being generally crooked and twisted. The foliage is more or less glaucous 
or mealy-white. 
Bark.—The bark is of a blackish, or dark-grey, colour, persistent, rugged, 
and very deeply furrowed, and from 4 to 2 inch in thickness. 
Branches.—The branches are crooked, and give the tree a spreading crown 
or head. 
Leaves.—The leaves are opposite, sessile or stalkless, cordate-ovate or 
somewhat globular in shape, and of a mealy-white or silvery-green colour. 
Flowers.—The flowers are from 3 to 6 in number, very small, and of a 
greenish-white or yellow colour. They appear in bloom from November to. 
January, and are arranged either in axillary peduncles or form a terminal 
panicle. ; 
Fruit.—The fruit is a small and somewhat globular truncate or pear- 
shaped capsule from + to + inch in diameter. 
Vernacunar AnD Borantcan Names.—The Silver-leaved Ironbark (so 
called from the colour of its leaves) is also called the Broad-leaved Iron- 
bark (from the shape of the leaves). The specific name, melanophloia, was 
given to this species by Baron Mueller from the great coritrast existing between 
the blackish trunk and the mealy-white foliage. This contrast is very striking, 
and gives the tree a very noticeable appearance. 
Disrrreutron.—The Silver-leaved Ironbark is found growing in open forest 
country, and especially on barren and stony ridges, and is common to both 
North and South Queensland and the northern parts of New South Wales. 
Uses.—The Silver-leaved Ironbark yields a closely-grained timber, with a 
reddish heartwood and a greyish sapwood. Tt is very soft when first cut, but 
as it dries it gradually becomes hard, and is then strong and durable. When 
growing on very poor lands and on stony ridges, the trunk is generally hollow. 
When obtained with sound straight trunks, it is used for telegraph poles. It is 
used, at times, for railway sleepers, and also for fencing and other purposes. 
The timber of this tree is, however, unless well seasoned, yery apt to split when 
constantly exposed to the sun. It is generally supposed to be inferior to that 
of other ironbarks. The flowers are a great favourite with bees, who seem to 
prefer them to the other species of Eucalypts when different trees are in bloom 
at the same time. The honey from them is one of the brightest and finest of 
Eucalyptus honeys. 
THE QUEENSLAND BLUE GUM (Aucalyptus tereticornis, Sm.) 
Borantcat Descriprion.—The Queensland Blue Gum is a tall, handsome 
tree of large size, growing to a height of from 60 to 90 or 100 feet in ordinary 
localities, with a diameter of from 18 to 86 inches. In more favourable and 
suitable habitats it attains the exceptional height of 150 and 160 feet, with a 
trunk diameter of 4 or more feet. It has, generally, a massive trunk and 
spreading branches. 
