(speltvariously)
the aboriginal name for various Australian andTasmanian fibrous plants; see quotations, 1825 and 1884.They are the – – Black Kurrajong – – Sterculia diversifolia, G. Don., and Sterculiaquadrifida, R. Br., N.O. Sterculiaceae.
♣
♣
♣
Others are Trema aspera, Blume, N.O. Urticeae;and Sterculia rupestris, Benth., N.O. Urticeae.Some of the varieties are also called Bottle-trees, and,in Tasmania, Cordage-trees (q.v.).
1823. `Uniacke's Narrative of Oxley's Expedition,' quoted byJ. D. Lang, `Cooksland,' p. 408:
«The nets used for fishing [by the natives] are made by the menfrom the bark of the kurrajong ( Hibiscus heterophyllus),a shrub which is very common to the swamps.»
1825. Barron Field, Glossary, in `Geographical Memoirs of NewSouth Wales,' p. 502:
«Currijong or Natives' cordage tree (Hibiscus heterophyllus).»
1832. J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' vol. ii. p. 25:
«The curragong is sometimes found; its inner bark may bemanufactured into ropes.»
1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 149:
«The currajong ( Sterculia)is used for cordage, and makesstrong, close, but not very durable ropes.»
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' vol. iii. p. 91:
«Dillis neatly worked of koorajong bark.»
1849. J. P. Townsend, `Rambles in New South Wales,' p. 214:
«In such a valley in which stands a spreading corrijong( Sterculia diversifolia), which has a strong resemblanceto the English oak, I constantly found a flock of sheep.»
1862. W. Archer, `Products of Tasmania,' p. 41:
«Currajong ( Plagianthus sidoides, Hook). The fibresof the bark are very strong. It is a large shrub, foundchiefly on the southern side of the Island, in various andshady places, and grows rapidly.»
1878. Rev. W. W. Spicer, `Handbook of the Plants ofTasmania,' p. 104:
« Plagianthus sidoides, Hooker. Currijong, N.O. Malvaceae. Peculiar to Tasmania.»
1883. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. i. p. 77:
«The currejong of the forest, and the casuarina which lines therivers, stand with brighter green in cheering contrast to thedulness of surrounding leaves.»
1881,. W. R. Guilfoyle, `Australian Botany' (secondedition), p. 162:
«The aborigines apply the name Kurrajong, or Currijong, to some[Pimeleas]; but it would appear that this native name isindiscriminately given to any plant possessing a tough bark.»
1888. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol. iii. p. 138:
«Quaint currajongs . . . very like in form to the stiffwooden trees we have all played with in childish days.»