Australian Sandarach; Brush Box; Seed Maize; Spotted Gum; ... ... ... NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT. It is hereby notified that all matter contained in the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales is protected by copyright. Newspapers desirous of republishing any articles may do so, and are merely required to make the usual acknowledgment. 4th June, 1894. Useful Australian Plants. BY J. H. MAIDEN, Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Garden, Sydney. No. 29. MOUNTAIN ASH (Eucalyptus virgata, Sieb.; Syn. E. Sieberiana, F. v. M.) 66 Other Vernacular Names.-Sometimes it is called "Black Ash." In Tasmania and at Wilson's Promontory, Victoria, it is sometimes called " Gumtop." Gum-top Stringy bark" is a name under which it goes in Victoria. Tasmania has no true ironbark, but this species is very generally known as "Ironbark" in that island. In appearance its trunk is much like an ironbark, except that the ends of the branches are free from rough bark, on which account it sometimes goes under the name of "White-topped Ironbark." Sometimes it is called " Blackbutt," but must not be confused with E. pilularis. I have received it under the names of "Bastard Blackbutt" and Cut-tail" from the Delegate district, near the Victorian border. It is very fissile, exceptionally so. What the meaning of the word "Cut-tail" may be I could never learn, although I have often inquired. The late Sir William Macarthur gave the name as 66 Willow or White-top" in the Berrima district, forty-five years ago, to the tree we now call Mountain Ash. Aboriginal Name.-It was called "Yowut" by Gippsland aborigines, according to Howitt. Botanical Name.-The name E. virgata (Latin adjective for "twiggy") indicates a small, slender shrub-a manifestly inappropriate name for a tree which commonly attains a large size. E. virgata was Sieber's name, and because of its inappropriateness Baron von Mueller has suggested the name E. Sieberiana, after the botanist who first recognised this tree as a distinct species. Leaves.-I am not aware that the oil from the leaves has been critically examined; it is not contained in sufficient quantity to cause the tree to be a favourite for distillation. Exudation. This tree exudes a transparent kino, of a rich, ruby colour. It is entirely soluble in cold water or spirit (alcohol), and belongs to my "Ruby" group of kinos. Bark.--In small trees the bark resembles stringy bark a good deal at a little distance. Hence the tree is sometimes called stringy bark, with some qualifying adjective. In well developed trees the bark becc mes more dense and dark-coloured, and takes on a furrowed appearance reminding one of an ironbark. In passing through a well-grown forest of these trees, say in the Ulladulla district, one might be readily excused for mistaking them for ironbarks, unless the bare branchlets be looked at, the branchlets on ironbark being rough to the tips. A |