Acacia. XLVII. § MIMOSER (OLIVER). 345 
16. A, Caffra, Willd. ; Benth. in Hook. Journ. Bot. 1842, 509. At- 
taining about 20 ft.; extremities pubescent or glabrous. Infra-stipular 
spines short, dilated at the base, usually slightly recurved at the apex, 
-frequentiy wanting; occasionally similar thinly scattered spines occur 
on the internodes. Leaf-rachis usually puberulous, sometimes aculeo- 
late bearing a sessile gland near the base, 2-4 in. long; pinne in 
6—14 pairs; leaflets linear-oblong, broadly pointed or obtuse, 2 lines 
long, and } line broad more or less, in 20-40 pairs. Spikes dense, 
shortly pedunculate, solitary or in fascicles of 2 or 8, shorter than or 
occasionally exceeding the leaves. Flowers sessile. Calyx cupuliform, 
teeth }—} its depth. Petals narrowed and free at the base, united at 
the middle ; but slightly exceeding the calyx. Legume linear, straight, 
flat, acuminate or apiculate, stipitate, valves coriaceous, glabrous, ob- 
scurely transversely veined, 5—8-seeded, 24—4 in. long, 4—3 in. broad. 
Lower Guinea. Bumbo (flower) and Mossamedes (fruit), Angola, Dr. Welwitsch! 
South Central. Lake Ngami, Vaccabe! 
Common in some parts of South extra-tropical Africa. ‘ ¢ 
The legumes of Dr. Welwitsch’s specimens are from 34-44 in. long, and nearly 7 in. 
broad, broader and more coriaceous than any specimens which I have seen from the 
Cape, but they are the only quite mature fruits I have had access to. They are indeed 
almost the counterpart of the legumes of the Abyssinian forms referred to A. Catechu 
(A. campylacantha, Hochst.), in which, however, the pinne and smaller leaflets are 
more numerous, 
17. A. pennata, Willd.; Benth. in Hook. Journ. Bot. 1842, 516. 
Shrub usually scandent more or less, occasionally erect, aculeate ; ex- 
tremities pubescent or glabrous, the epiderm often early fissuring longi- 
tudinally ; prickles numerous or sparse, scattered between the nodes 
and frequently upon the leaf-rachis, short, compressed, conical, de- 
curved. Stipules linear or oblong, striate, not spinescent, early decidu- 
ous. Pinnw in 8-20 pairs, usually 10-15, or alternating more or less ; 
rachis usuall y with a conspicuous gland near the base ; leaflets linear, 
somewhat pointed, base oblique, in 30-60 or -70 pairs, 1—3 lines long. 
Flowers capitate, peduncles slender, 4—1 in. long, ebracteate, fascicled 
at the nodes of leafless racemes, either axillary or collected in lax ter- 
minal panicles. Calyx rather acutely toothed. Petals connate } or 
§ their length, but slightly exceeding the calyx. Ovary usually 
pubescent on a distinct stipes. Legume flat, linear-oblong, frequently 
faintly constricted between the seeds or undulate, 2-valved, valves 
thinly coriaceous, glabrous or glabrate, usually with more or less dis- 
tinct transverse reticulation, 24—7 in. long, }-1} broad. Seeds 3-9, 
compressed, roundish or elliptical, usually subdistant (var. dolicho- 
sperma). For synonymy see Mr. Bentham’s memoir cited above. 
Upper Guinea. Sierra Leone, Afzelius! Kongui and Bagroo rivers, Mann! 
rinces Island, Mann! 
Nile Land. Abyssinia, Dr. Roth! 
Lower Guinea. Huilla, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch! (an erect shrub of 5-7 ft.) 
Mozamb. Distr. Shire Valley and on the Zambesi, Dr. Kirk! Ugogo, Marenga 
Mkhali, Speke and Grant! 
Var. dolichosperma. Valves and legume more coriaceous, nervation very obscure. 
