.572 BOTAXICAL XOTES 0^^ QUEEXSLAND, 



contrast to the Brigalow, but though common it never grows in 

 the form of scrubs. 



Both these Acacia trees were described very early in the 

 botanical history of this continent. Neither of them is so com- 

 mon as the Brigalow, and yet strange to say the latter which is 

 found scattered over an enormous extent of country remained 

 undescribed until it was found by Baron von Mueller in his 

 overland journey from the Victoria River with Augustus G-regory 

 in 1851. This is the more remarkable when we remember that 

 Sir Thomas Mitchell was a zealous botanist, and on his journey 

 to the Barcoo made extensive collections which Lindley described 

 for him in the published account of his journey.* He passed 

 through extensive forests of this very tree, but I suppose ho 

 must have regarded it as already described as it was so common, 

 or confused it with some species that he had seen elsewhere. 

 This was probably the case with Leichhardt who was the first to 

 introduce the native (?) name oE "Brigalow" to the public. 

 There can be no doubt however that the species was never sent 

 to Europe by any of the earlier botanists. 



It is somewhat singular that this species of scrub is not con- 

 fined to the poor light soils and stony ground. In the rich black 

 soils of what are called the downs, dense Brigalow thickets are 

 met with. These soils ai'o derived from volcanic rock, and 

 boulders of vesicular dolerite rock with glazed ironstone pebbles 

 are always scattered amidst the black earth. In such localities 

 there is usually an abundant and luxuriant growth of fodder 

 grasses such ?i^ Anclropogon serlceus, Anthisteria australis, Perofis 

 rara, Sporoholus llncUei/i, Leptocliloa suhdigitata, Stipa. micrantTia^ 

 Aristida calycina^ A. ramosa, A. vagans, A. arenaria, and occas- 

 ionally Triodia mitclielU or porcupine. But while such grasses 

 appear in abundance in some parts of the volcanic soils and 

 downs, they quite disappear in places where the Brigalow is 



* " Tropical Australia/' by Sir Thomas Mitchell, 1 vol., London, 1846. 



