337 



A GIANT ACACIA FROM THE BRUNSWICK RIVER. 



By J. H. Maidex, F.L.S. 



(Plate XXI.) 



Acacia Bakeri, sp.nov. 



Attains the dimensions of a large forest tree, measuring up to 

 160* feet in height, and from 2 to 4^ feet in diameter; stem some- 

 times buttressed. It is, as far as at present known, exclusively 

 confined to brushes, as distinct from open forest. Branchlets at 

 first terete but at length flattened, glabrous. Phyllodia sessile, 

 broadly lanceolate, narrowed at each end, obtuse, mostly 3 to 4 

 inches long and 1 inch broad, but occasionall}'- 6 inches long and 

 3 inches broad when they are acuminate and broad at the base; 

 3-nerved, with sometimes a short one terminating in a gland a 

 little removed from the base, penniveined between the nerves, 

 margins thickened and undulate, thinly coriaceous. Peduncles 

 slender, 6 lines long, mostly in clusters of 3 to 10, forming 

 numerous axillary racemes mostly exceeding the phyllodes, bearing 

 a small loose head of few, pale coloured flowers, rarely as many 

 as 20, mostly 4-merous. Calyx short, pubescent or softly villous, 

 eventually separating into spathulate lobes. Petals pubescent, 

 softly villous. Pod long, straight, flat, usually 8 inches long and 

 6 lines broad, thin, contracted somewhat between the seeds, 

 shining. Seeds flat, ovate, longitudinal; funicle short and fili- 

 form, neither folded nor enlarged. 



* A road party recently cut down one of these trees on Mullumbimby 

 Creek, and it was found by measurement to be 140 feet high, and 3 feet 

 8 inches in diameter. The collector adds " On Tengoggin Mountain there 

 are qdenty of trees 20 or 30 feet higher." 



