28 WATTLES OR ACACIAS. 
themselves roundish, with walls as thick as the hollow centre. 
(This is in consonance with observations instituted by Dr. Josef 
Moller.) 
The Wattle-bark of this species is twice or thrice as rich as 
Oak-bark in tannin. The tree exudes a considerable quantity of 
gum, which resembles gum Arabic and is of similar use. 
We have in Victoria only two more pinnate-leaved Acacias, 
namely A. discolor of Gippsland and Acacia Mitchelli of the 
Ovens-Ranges, Grampians and Glenele-River. But, on the 
contrary, we are acquainted with about fifty phyllodinous Vic- 
torian Acacias, mostly of shrubby growth only. The description 
of two of the most important arboreous species will suftice, to 
initiate the tyro into the mode of noticing the principal charac- 
teristics of these kinds of plants. 
The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha).—A small tree, 
flowering often already as a shrub, glabrous in all parts, branch- 
lets often reddish-brown, not conspicuously angular. Phyllodia 
(leaves) oblong or lanceolar, sickle-shaped, occasionally oblique- 
ovate, one-nerved, 23-6 inches long, 1-14 inch broad; with 
spreading veins and with a marginal gland above the base. 
Flowerheads in racemes, fragrant; floral bracts consisting of a 
minute roundish plate, attached centrally to a slender stalklet. 
Calyx short-lobed or almost truncate, more than half as long as 
the connate petals (corolla), velvet-downy at the margin. Fruits 
broad or elongate, linear, flat, straight at the margin or but 
shightly waved. Seeds black, oval, placed lengthwise, on a short 
funicle, which is thickened into a pale boat-shaped semicylindri- 
cal mass (aril) of about half the length of the seed. 
This is one of the most beautiful species, when seen loaded with 
its bright-yellow flowers early in spring; it is furthermore one of 
the most useful among its congeners, being like the Black Wattle 
rapid in growth, yielding a bark very rich in tannin, and also a 
copious supply of gum. Its geographic limits extend from 
South Australia through Victoria to those districts of New 
South Wales, which border the Murray-country; not existing 
naturally in Tasmania. As it will live in mere coast-sand, this 
species becomes also important for staying and utilizing sandy 
