594 BOTANY OF THE INTERIOR OP NEW SOUTH WALES, 



are to be seen in the upper branches. In the Bourke to Cobar 

 district the Belah has a very glaucous appearance, which is possibly 

 one of the reasons why it was confused with C. glauca in the 

 past. Towards the Lachlan the branchlets are greener. 



Acacia excelsa, Bentham (Ironwood, from the hardness of the 

 wood, which is brittle and inclined to splinter).* Mature trees 

 have a clean trunk and drooping foliage (PI. xl., fig. 3), but the young 

 trees are covered with branches on the trunk. A curious feature of 

 many interior trees is the protection afforded by spreading growth 

 and numerous branches in young stages as compared with that of 

 after years. Several species have this peculiarity, among others 

 being Acacia excelsa, Grevillea striata, Capparis Mitchelli, and 

 perhaps most of all Flindersia maculosa, F.v.M. In the Agricul- 

 tural Gazette of New South Wales (Vol. x., Part 11), Mr. W. S. 

 Campbell, F.L.S., has drawn attention to this matter in an 

 interesting illustrated article. 



Acacia aneura is next noticed. 



Near the 1 2 mile post is a clump of trees of a species of Acacia 

 commonly called Gidgea. This is a well known north-western 

 tree, as the timber is much sought after for stockwhip handles, 

 owing to its durability, hardness and dark colour. Fence posts 

 of Gidgea on the Hungerford-road, north of Bourke, said to have 

 been in the ground 30 years, are still good. One unpleasant 

 feature of this tree is the most disagreeable smell of the leaves 

 in wet or approaching wet weather, reminding one of decaying 

 cabbage. I am informed that at one Queensland town where 

 there is a clump of Gidgea seven miles distant, these trees with 

 a suitable wind at times give most unmistakable evidence of 

 their presence. In appearance they somewhat resemble a large 

 form of Yarran, Acacia homalophylla, A. Cunn. Generally speak - 

 ins; Gidaea is said to extend from Bourke northwards, and after 



* This species was identified by Mr. K. T. Baker, who informs me that it 

 is a Queensland tree, and has not been recorded for New South Wales. He 

 exhibited a specimen of the wood at the June meeting of the Society. 

 Height up to 40 or 50 feet. 



