Nov., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9l 



Another October-flowering species cannot be passed over — 

 the Prickly Wattle, or Kangaroo Thorn, Acacia armata, well 

 known as a hedge plant around the metropolis and elsewhere, 

 and appearing so gay when decked with its bright yellow 

 balls, each on a conspicuous stalk, and protected from the 

 vandal by sharp needle-like spines — hence the botanical 

 name. A good specimen of this acacia when in bloom is 

 not to be despised as a flowering shrub. It is perhaps 

 the oldest known of Australian acacias, and was recorded 

 by the early explorers of the Port Jackson district. At 

 the You Yangs there are natural lanes of this wattle, where 

 the rabbits play and the foxes prowl. It grows to perfection on 

 Kangaroo Island, off South Australia, in the hollows of the lime- 

 stone hills of that most picturesque place. In it numerous birds, 

 such as Warblers, Honey-eaters, and Tits, find secure retreats, 

 and love to build their nests. Indeed, even human beings might 

 be tempted to camp under the snug and inviting flowering 

 bushes if it were not for the fear of settling upon serious 

 trouble — detached thorns, unseen and scattered in the grass. 



In wattle time, the more daylight the more delight. Let 

 us hasten on to November, when the Black Wattles, Acacia 

 decurrens and A. niollissima spread their perfume afar over the 

 land. The Black Wattle is a tree highly prized in commerce, for 

 as a tanning material its bark possesses the highest percentage of 

 tannic acid. It enjoys a goodly range, from Queensland to South 

 Australia, including Tasmania. 



Some sound authorities maintain that the Silver, the Green, 

 and the Black Wattles are merely geographical varieties of the 

 same species. That may be so, but the field observer seeks a 

 reason why the Silver and the Green have rich yellow flowers 

 and bloom in early spring, while the Black (a name suggested by 

 its dark-coloured bark and foliage) waits till the summer to put 

 forth its floral splendour of pale yellow. Can the same species 

 have two seasons and two colours? Again, where does the 

 geographic distinction come in if the respective trees grow in the 

 same locality ? True, one is at the water-side, the other on the 

 hill. Exchange their environments and they perish, or at least 

 they do not thrive. 



Black Wattle is found in every bit of bush ; in fact, if you cut 

 down the standing forest and send a fire through it, wattles spring 

 up thickly, seemingly where they never existed before, for the 

 reason already mentioned when speaking of the germination of 

 the seed. Nowhere are finer trees for blossom to be seen than 

 in that favoured locality, the You Yangs. About the beginning 

 of November the hills and hollows are fairly flushed with its 

 pale or Naples yellow blossom. Mount some massive granite tor 

 and take in the scene. You appear to be encircled with Black 



