Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

<hw>Nut, Queensland</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Queensland Nut</i>.

<hw>Nut, Union</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Union Nut</i>.

<hw>Nut-Grass</hw>, <i>n</i>. an Australian plant, <i>Cyperus rotundus</i>, Linn., <i>N.O. Cyperaceae</i>. The specific and the vernacular name both refer to the round tubers of the plant; it is also called <i>Erriakura</i> (q.v.).

<hw>Nutmeg, Queensland</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Queensland Nutmeg</i>.

<hw>Nut-Palm</hw>, <i>n</i>. a tree, <i>Cycas media</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Cycadeae</i>.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 21:

"Nut-Palm. Employed by the aborigines as food. An excellent farina is obtained from it."

O

Oak, <i>n</i>. The Oak of the Northern Hemisphere (<i>Quercus</i>) is not found among the indigenous trees of Australia; but the name <i>Oak</i> is applied there to the trees of the genus <i>Casuarina</i> (q.v.), and usually in the curious form of <i>She-Oak</i> (q.v.). The species have various appellations in various parts, such as <i>Swamp-Oak</i>, <i>River-Oak</i>, <i>Bull-Oak</i>, <i>Desert-Oak</i>; and even the word <i>He-Oak</i> is applied sometimes to the more imposing species of <i>She-Oak</i>, though it is not recognised by Maiden, whilst the word <i>Native Oak</i> is indiscriminately applied to them all.

The word <i>Oak</i> is further extended to a few trees, not <i>Casuarinae</i>, given below; and in New Zealand it is also applied to <i>Matipo</i> (q.v.) and <i>Titoki</i>, or <i>Alectryon</i> (q.v.).