given in North Tasmania
and other places), but this is an inappropriate name. It is in
allusion to its weight as compared with Eucalyptus timbers. It
is the `Black Sally' of Western New South Wales, the `Hickory'
of the southern portion of that colony, and is sometimes
called `Silver Wattle.' This is considered by some people
to be the most valuable of all Australian timbers.

It is hard and close-grained; much valued for furniture,
picture-frames, cabinet-work, fencing, bridges, etc., railway,
and other carriages, boat-building, for tool-handles,
gun-stocks, naves of wheels, crutches, parts of organs,
pianofortes (sound-boards and actions), etc."

<hw>Light Yellow-wood</hw>, i.q. <i>Long-Jack</i> (q.v.).

<hw>Lignum</hw> (1), or <hw>Lignum-Vitae</hw>, <i>n</i>.
The name is applied to several trees, as <i>Myrtus
acmenioides</i>, F. v. M., called also <i>White Myrtle</i>;
<i>Acacia falcata</i>, Willd., <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>,
called also <i>Hickory</i> and <i>Sally</i>; but chiefly to
<i>Eucalyptus polyanthema</i>, Schau., <i>N.O. Myrtaceae</i>.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 505:

"[<i>E. polyanthema</i>.] The `Red Box' of South-eastern
Australia. Called also `Brown Box,' `Grey Box,' and `Bastard
Box.' `Poplar-leaved Gum' is another name, but it is most
commonly known as `Lignum Vitae' because of its tough and hard
wood. Great durability is attributed to this wood, though the
stems often become hollow in age, and thus timber of large
dimensions is not readily afforded. It is much sought after
for cogs, naves and felloes; it is also much in demand for
slabs in mines, while for fuel it is unsurpassed. (Mueller.)
Its great hardness is against its general use."

(2) A bushman's contraction for any species of the wiry plants
called polygonum.

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' [writing
of the Lachlan district, New South Wales] p. 180:

"The poor emus had got down into the creek amongst the lignum
bushes for a little shade . . . I do not know what a
botanist would call them; they are something like cane, but
with large leaves, which all animals are fond of, and they grow
about eight feet high in the creeks and gullies."

1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 135:

"By mulga scrub and lignum plain."

<hw>Lilac</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given in Australia to the tree
<i>Melia composita</i>, Willd., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>, called
<i>Cape Lilac</i>. It is not