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19—MORRELL (Euc. longicornis).
This tree attains a height of 60 to 90 feet, with a bole of 30 to 40 feet, and diameter up to four feet.
Weight per cubic foot (green)—73lbs.
At 12 per cent, moisture—61lbs.
Transverse strength—16,900lbs. per square inch.
Tensile strength—15.000lbs. per square inch.
It is a strong, hard, dense wood, and has an interlocked grain. It is of a dark-brown colour, and is used for wheelwright work, tool handles, etc. It is also used for mining timber. It occurs in the dry country in the rainfall belt of about 10 to 20 inches, and is scattered throughout the length and breadth of country between Three Springs on the North, Katanning on the South, and Southern Cross on the East. It does not grow in dense forests, but occurs in savannah forest formation.
The bark is rough and somewhat like that of Yate, and is red inside. It also peels off the branches and often for a distance down the trunk. This bark is fairly distinctive, but in case of doubt it is advisable to refer to the fruits, These are hemispherical, about ¼ inch in diameter, flat or sunken at the top, with long awl-like points protruding from the opening. They have each a slender stalk of nearly a ¼ of an inch in length. The flowers are white.
