a name given to various trees.See Blackwood. It is chiefly applied to Acaciamelanoxylon, R. Br., N.O. Leguminosae. See quotations, 1843 and 1889.
1843. I. Backhouse. `Narrative of a Visit to the AustralianColonies,' p. 48:
«Lightwood – – Acacia Melanoxylon . . . It derives itsname from swimming in water, while the other woods ofV. D. Land, except the pines, generally sink. In some parts ofthe Colony it is called Blackwood, on account of its darkcolour.»
1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 515:
«Some immense logs of `light wood,' a non lucendo,darker than mahogany.»
1864. J. Rogers, `New Rush,' p. 17:
«Arms so brown and bare, to look at them
Recalls to mind the lightwood's rugged stem.»
1866. H. Simcox, `Rustic Rambles,' p. 54:
«The numerous lightwood trees with sombre shade
Tend to enhance the richness of the glade.»
1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xv. p. 111:
«The ex-owner of Lyne wished himself back among the oldlightwood trees.»
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 359:
«Called `Blackwood' on account of the very dark colour of themature wood. It is sometimes called `Lightwood' (chiefly inSouth Tasmania, while the other name is given in North Tasmaniaand other places), but this is an inappropriate name. It is inallusion to its weight as compared with Eucalyptus timbers. Itis the `Black Sally' of Western New South Wales, the `Hickory'of the southern portion of that colony, and is sometimescalled `Silver Wattle.' This is considered by some peopleto 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.»