Acacia.] xlvii. § mimoseje (oliver). 345 



16. A. Caffra, Willd. ; Benth. in Hook. Journ. Bot. 1842, 509. At- 

 taining* about 20 ft. ; extremities pubescent or glabrous. Infra- stipular 

 spines short, dilated at the base, usually slightly recurved at the apex, 

 frequently wanting ; occasionally similar thinly scattered spines occur 

 on the internodes. Leaf-rachis usually puberulous, sometimes aculeo- 

 late bearing a sessile gland near the base, 2-4 in. long ; pinnae in 

 6-14 pairs ; leaflets linear-oblong, broadly pointed or obtuse, 2 lines 

 long, and J line broad more or less, in 20-40 pairs. Spikes dense, 

 shortly pedunculate, solitary or in fascicles of 2 or 3, shorter than or 

 occasionally exceeding the leaves. Flowers sessile. Calyx cupuliform, 

 teeth ^-J its depth. Petals narrowed and free at the base, united at 

 the middle ; but slightly exceeding the calyx. Legume linear, straight, 

 flat, acuminate or apiculate, stipitate, " valves coriaceous, glabrous, ob- 

 scurely transversely veined, 5-$-seeded, 2J-4 in. long, J— § in. broad. 



Lower Guinea. Bumbo (flower') and Mossamedes (fruit), Angola, Dr. Welwitsch! 



South Central. Lake Ngami, Maccdbe ! 



Common in some parts of South extra-tropical Africa. 



The legumes of Dr. Welwitsch's specimens are from 3^-4| in. long, and nearly f in. 

 broad, broader and more coriaceous than any specimens which I have seen from the 

 Gape, but they are the only quite mature fruits I have had access to. They are indeed 

 almost the counterpart of the legumes of the Abyssinian forms referred to A. Catechu 

 {A. campylacantha, Hochst.), in which, however, the pinnae and smaller leaflets are 

 more numerous. 



17. A. pennata, Willd. ; Benth. in Hook. Journ. Bot. 1842, 516. 

 Shrub usually scandent more or less, occasionally erect, aculeate ; ex- 

 tremities pubescent or glabrous, the epiderm often early Assuring longi- 

 tudinally j prickles numerous or sparse, scattered between the nodes 

 and frequently upon the leaf-rachis, short, compressed, conical, de- 

 curved. Stipules linear or oblong, striate, not spinescent, early decidu- 

 ous. Pinnae in 8-20 pairs, usually 10-15, or alternating more or less ; 

 rachis usually with a conspicuous gland near the base ; leaflets linear, 

 somewhat pointed, base oblique, in 30-60 or -70 pairs, 1-3 lines long. 

 Flowers capitate, peduncles slender, J-l in. long, ebracteate, fascicled 

 at the nodes of leafless racemes, either axillary or collected in lax ter- 

 minal panicles. Calyx rather acutely toothed. Petals connate J or 

 | their length, but slightly exceeding the calyx. Ovary usually 

 pubescent on a distinct stipes. Legume flat, linear-oblong, frequently 

 faintly constricted between the seeds or undulate, 2-valved, valves 

 thinly coriaceous, glabrous or glabrate, usually with more qr less dis- 

 tinct transverse reticulation, 2J-7 in. long, f-l£ broad. Seeds 3-9, 

 compressed, roundish or elliptical, usually subdistant (var. dolicho- 

 sperma). For synonymy see Mr. Bentham's memoir cited above. 



Upper Guinea. Sierra Leone, Afzelius! Kongui and Bagroo rivers, Mann! 

 Princes Island, Mann! 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Dr. Roth! 



Lower Guinea. Huilla, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch! (an erect shrub of 5-7 ft.) 



Mozamb. Distr. Shire Valley and on the Zambesi, Dr. Kirk! Ugogo, Marenga 

 Mkhali, Speke and Grant! 



Var. dolichosperma. Valves and legume more coriaceous, nervation very obscure. 



VOX. IT. M 



