Acacia Melanoxylon, R. Br.

The well known Blackwood of our river flats and moist forest valleys, passing also under the inappropriate name of Lightwood. In irrigated valleys of deep soil the tree will attain a height of 80 feet, with a stem several feet in diameter. The wood is most valuable for furniture, railway carriages, boat-building, casks, billiard tables, pianofortes (for sound-boards and actions), and numerous other purposes. The fine-grained wood is cut into veneers. It takes a fine polish, and is considered equal to the best Walnut. Our best wood for bending under steam. For further details refer to the volumes of the Exhibitions of 1862 and 1867.