Austral English. Edward Ellis Morris
one true Beech in Australia, <i>Fagus cunninghamii</i>, Hook, <i>N.O. Cupuliferae</i>; but the name is applied to many other kinds of Australian trees, viz.—
(1) Simply to
<i>Cryptocarya glaucescens</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Laurineae</i>, called also Black Sassafras, White Laurel, She Beech, and Black Beech.
<i>Flindersia australis</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>, called also Flindosa Ash, Crow's Ash, and Rasp-pod, and invariably Myrtle to Tasmania.
Gmelina leichhardtii, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Verbenaceae</i>.
<i>Monotoca elliptica</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Epacrideae</i>.
<i>Phyllanthus ferdinandi</i>, Muell. and Arg., <i>N.O. Euphorbiaceae</i>, called also Pencil Cedar in Southern New South Wales.
<i>Schizomeria ovata</i>, D. Don, <i>N.O. Saxifrageae</i>, called also Corkwood, Light-wood, Coachwood, and White Cherry.
<i>Trochocarpa laurina</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Epacrideae, called</i> also Brush Cherry, and Brush Myrtle.
(2) With various epithets the name is also used as follows—
Evergreen Beech—
<i>Fagus cunninghamii</i>, Hook, <i>N.O. Cupuliferae</i>, called also Myrtle and Negro-head Beech.
Flindosy B.—
<i>Flindersia schottiana</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>, called also Ash and Stave-wood.
Indian B.—
<i>Pongamia glabra</i>, Vent., <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>, B. Fl.
Mountain B.—
<i>Lomatia longifolia</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Proteaceae</i>.
Native B.—
<i>Callicoma serratifolia</i>, Andr., <i>N.O. Saxifragiae</i>, "one of the trees called by the early colonists `Black Wattle,' from the fancied resemblance of the flowers to those of some of the wattles." (Maiden, p. 389.)
Negro-head B., i.q. Evergreen B. (q.v. supra).
Queensland B.—
<i>Gmelina leichhardtii</i> , F. v. M., <i>N.O. Verbenaceae</i>, a tall valuable timber-tree.
Red B.—
<i>Tarrietia trifoliata</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Sterculiaceae</i>.
She B.—
<i>Cryptocazya obovata</i>, R. Br., <i>H.0. Laurineae</i>, B. Fl., called also Bastard Sycamore.
White B.—
<i>Elaeocarpus kirtoni</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Tiliaceae</i>, called also Mountain Ash.
(3) In New Zealand, there are six species of true beeches, which according to Kirk are as follows—
Blair's B.—
<i>Fagus blairii</i>, T. Kirk.
Entire-leaved B.—
<i>F. solandri</i>, Hook. f.
Mountain B.—
<i>F. cliffortioides</i>, Hook. f.
Pointed-leaved B.—
<i>F. apiculata</i>, Colenso.
Silver B.—
<i>F. Menziesii</i>, Hook. f.
Tooth-leaved B.—
<i>F. fusca</i>, Hook. f.
All these, however, are commonly called <i>Birches</i>.
See also the words <i>Ash, Myrtle, Sassafras</i>.
<hw>Bee-eater</hw>, <i>n</i>. a bird-name. The European Bee-eater is <i>Merops apiaster</i>; the Australian species is <i>Merops ornatus</i>, Lath. The bird was called "<i>M. phrygius</i>, the Embroidered Merops," by Shaw.
1793. G. Shaw, `Zoology [and Botany] of New Holland,' p. 14:
"Specific character.—Black Merops varied with yellow. The bird figured in its natural size on the present plate is a species of Merops or Bee-eater; a tribe which appears to be peculiarly prevalent in the extensive regions of Australia, since more birds of this genus have been discovered than of any other, except the very numerous one of Psittacus."
[The birds, however, have been since this date further differentiated, and are now all classed in other genera, except the present species.]
1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 144:
"The wattled bee-eater, of which a plate is annexed, fell in our way during the course of the day. … Under the eye, on each side, is a kind of wattle of an orange colour … This bird seems to be peculiar to New Holland."
Ibid. p. 190:
"We this day shot a knob-fronted bee-eater (see plate annexed).
This is about the size of a black-bird." [Description follows.]
<hw>Beef-wood</hw>, <i>n</i>. the timber of various Australian trees, especially of the genus <i>Casuarina</i>, and some of the Banksias; often used as a synonym of <i>She-oak</i> (q.v.). The name is taken from the redness of the wood.
1826. J. Atkinson, `Agriculture and Grazing in New South Wales,' p. 31:
"The wood is well known in England by the names of Botany Bay wood, or beef wood.The grain is very peculiar, but the wood is thought very little of in the colony; it makes good shingles, splits, in the colonial phrase, from heart to bark … "
1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. i. c. i. p. 22:
"They seemed to be covered with cypresses and beef-wood."
1846. C. Holtzapffel, `Turning,' vol. i. p. 74:
"Beef wood. Red-coloured woods are sometimes thus named, but it is generally applied to the Botany-Bay oak."
1852. G. C. Munday, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 219:
"A shingle of the beef-wood looks precisely like a raw beef-steak."
1856. Capt. H. Butler Stoney, `A Residence in Tasmania,' p. 265:
"We now turn our attention to some trees of a very different nature, <i>Casuarina stricta</i> and <i>quadrivalvis</i>, commonly called He and She oak, and sometimes known by the name of beef-wood, from the wood, which is very hard and takes a high polish, exhibiting peculiar maculae spots and veins scattered throughout a finely striated tint … "
1868. Paxton's `Botanical Dictionary,' p. 116:
"Casuarinaceae,or Beefwoods. Curious branching, leafless trees or shrubs, with timber of a high order, which is both hard and heavy, and of the colour of raw beef, whence the vulgar name."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants.' (See `Index of vernacular names.')
<hw>Belar</hw>, <i>n</i>. (various spellings, <i>Belah, billa, beela, beal</i>), an aboriginal name for the tree <i>Casuarina glauca</i>. The colonists call the tree Bull-oak, probably from this native name.
1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 18:
"A voice in the beela grows wild in its wail."
1868. J. A. B., `Meta,' p. 19:
"With heartfelt glee we hail the camp,
And blazing fire of beal."
[Footnote]: "Aboriginal name of the gum-tree wood."