1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 65:
"The silver-leaved ironbark (<i>Eucalyptus pulverulentus</i>)
was here coming into blossom."
<i>Narrow-leaved</i>--
1847. Ibid. p. 154:
"The narrow-leaved ironbark [grew] on a lighter sandy soil."
<hw>Iron hand</hw>, a term of Victorian politics. It was a new
Standing Order introducing what has since been called the
Closure, and was first moved in the Victorian Legislative
Assembly on Jan. 27, 1876.
1876. `Victorian Hansard,' Jan. 20, vol. xxiii. p. 2002:
"They [the Government] have dealt with the Opposition with
a velvet glove; but the iron hand is beneath, and they shall
feel it."
1884. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. iii.
p. 406:
"The <i>cloture</i>, or the `iron hand,' as McCulloch's
resolution was called, was adopted in Victoria, for one
session."
<hw>Ironheart</hw>, <i>n</i>. a New Zealand tree,
<i>Metrosideros tomentosa</i>, <i>N.O. Myrtaceae</i>; native
name, <i>Pohutukawa</i>.
1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 311:
"It was the `downy ironheart'
That from the cliffs o'erhanging grew,
And o'er the alcove, every part,
Such beauteous leaves and blossoms threw."
"<i>Note</i>.--This most lovely tree is common about the
northern coasts and cliffs of the North Island and the banks of
Lake Tarawera."
<hw>Ironwood</hw>, <i>n</i>. The name is used of many
hard-wooded trees in various parts of the world. The
Australian varieties are--
Ironwood (Queensland)--
<i>Acacia excelsa</i>, Benth., <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>;
<i>Melaleuca genistifolia</i>, Smith, <i>N.O. Myrtaceae</i>.
Ironwood (North Queensland)--
<i>Myrtus gonoclada</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Myrtaceae</i>.
Ironwood (North New South Wales)--
<i>Olea paniculata</i>, R.Br., <i>N.O. Jasmineae</i>.
Ironwood (Tasmania)--
<i>Notelaea ligustrina</i>, Vent., <i>N.O. Jasmineae</i>.
Scrub Ironwood--
<i>Myrtus hillii</i>, Benth., <i>N.O. Myrtaceae</i>.
For <i>Ironwood</i> of New Zealand, see <i>Puriri</i>.
1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. xii.
p. 479:
"A club of iron-wood, which the cannibals had left in the
boat."
1823. W. B. Cramp, `Narrative of a Voyage to India,' p. 17:
". . . they have a short club made of iron wood, called a
waday, and a scimeter made of the same wood."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 579:
"`Ironwood' and `Heartwood' of Tasmania; `Spurious Olive,'
`White Plum' of Gippsland. An exceedingly hard, close-grained
wood, used for mallets, sheaves of blocks, turnery, etc. The
heartwood yields a very peculiar figure ; it is a very fair
substitute for lignum-vitae."
<hw>Irriakura</hw>, <i>n</i>. an aboriginal name for the tubers
of <i>Cyperus rotundus</i>, Linn., <i>N.O. Cyperaceae</i>,
adopted by white men in Central Australia.
1896. E. C. Stirling, `Home Expedition in Central
Australia,' Anthropology, p. 60:
"<i>Cyperus rotundus</i>. In almost every camp we saw large
quantities of the tunicated tubes of this plant, which are
generally called `Erriakura' or `Irriakura' by the Arunta
natives. . . Even raw they are pleasant to the taste, having
an agreeable nutty flavour, which is much improved by the
slight roasting."
<hw>Ivory-wood</hw>, <i>n</i>. an Australian timber,
<i>Siphonodon australe</i>, Benth., <i>N.O. Celastrinae</i>.
<hw>Ivy</hw>, <i>n</i>. a child's name for the ivy-leaf
geraniums, especially the double pink-flowered one called
Madame Kruse. In Australia the warm climate makes these all
evergreens, and they are trained over fences and walls,
sometimes to the height of twenty or thirty feet, supplanting
the English ivy in this use, and covered with masses of
flowers.
<hw>Ivy, Native</hw>, an Australian plant, <i>Muehlenbeckia
adpressa</i>, Meissn., <i>N.O. Polygonaceae</i>; called also
<i>Macquarie Harbour Vine</i>, or <i>Grape</i>. The name is
widely applied also to the acclimatised Cape Ivy, or German
Ivy (<i>Senecio scandens</i>).
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 46:
"`Native Ivy,' Macquarie Harbour Vine or Grape of Tasmania.
The currant-like fruits are sub-acid, and were, and perhaps
still are, used for tarts, puddings, and preserves; the leaves
taste like sorrel."
<hw>Ivy, Wild</hw>, <i>n</i>. an Australian creeper,
<i>Platylobium triangulare</i>, R. Br.,
<i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>.
<hw>Ivy-tree</hw>, <i>n</i>. New Zealand tree, genus
<i>Panax</i>, <i>N.O. Araliacae</i>; Maori name,
<i>Horoeka</i>. It is also called <i>Lancewood</i> (q.v.).
1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New' Zealand,' p. 127:
"Horoeka, ivy-tree. an ornamental, slender, and
sparingly-branched tree. Wood close-grained and tough."
J
<hw>Jabiru</hw>, <i>n</i>. The word comes from Brazil, and was
first given there to the large stork <i>Mycteria (Xenorhynchus)
Americana</i>. The Australian species is <i>M. australis</i>,
Lath. It has the back and neck dark grey, changing on the neck
to scarlet. There is a black-necked stork in Australia
(<i>Xenorhynchus asiaticus</i>), which is also called the
<i>Jabiru</i>.
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 194:
"We saw a Tabiroo [sic] (<i>Mycteria</i>)."
1860. G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 195:
"In October, 1858, I succeeded in purchasing a fine living
specimen of the New Holland Jabiru, or Gigantic Crane of the
colonists (<i>Mycteria Australis</i>)"
1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 323:
"The splendid Australian jabiru (<i>Mycteria Australis</i>),
and I had the good fortune to shoot on the wing a specimen of
this beautiful variety of the stork family."
<hw>Jacana</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Brazilian word for a bird of the
genus <i>Parra</i> (q.v.). The Australian species is the
Comb-crested Jacana, <i>Parra gallinacea</i>, Temm. It is also
called the <i>Lotus-bird</i> (q.v.).
<hw>Jack in a Box</hw>, i.q. <i>Hair-trigger</i> (q.v.).
1854. `The Home Companion,' p. 554:
"When previously mentioning the elegant <i>Stylidium
graminifolium</i> (grass-leaved Jack-in-a-box), which may be
easily known by its numerous grassy-like radical leaves, and
pretty pink flowers, on a long naked stem, we omitted to
mention a peculiarity in it, which is said to afford much
amusement to the aborigines, who are, generally speaking, fond
of, and have a name for, many of the plants common in their own
territories. The stigma lies at the apex of a long column,
surrounded and concealed by the anthers. This column is
exceedingly irritable, and hangs down on one side of the
flower, until it is touched, when it suddenly springs up and
shifts to the opposite side of the blossom or calyx."
1859. D. Bunce, `Australasiatic Reminiscences,' p. 26:
"<i>Stylidium</i> (native Jack in a box). This genus is
remarkable for the singular elasticity of the column stylis,
which support the anthers, and which being irritable, will
spring up if pricked with a pin, or other little substance,
below the joint, before the pollen, a small powder, is shed,
throwing itself suddenly over, like a reflex arm, to the
opposite side of the flower. Hence the colonial designation of
Jack in a box."
<hw>Jack the Painter</hw>, <i>n</i>. very strong bush-tea, so
called from the mark it leaves round the drinker's mouth.
1855. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' p. 163:
"Another notorious ration tea of the bush is called Jack the
Painter--a very green tea indeed, its viridity evidently
produced by a discreet use of the copper drying-pans in its
manufacture."
1878. `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 418:
"The billy wins, and `Jack the Painter' tea
Steams on the hob, from aught like fragrance free."