99 



cannot be called ' timber,' as not over one in 5,000 could be got 6 feet long, 

 6 inches in diameter, and straight." At the same time the Yarran, in some 

 districts, exhibits a better trunk than that. 



Habitat. It is a dry-country species, confined to' New South Wales, 

 Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. 



In the " Flora Australiensis " it is recorded from : 



New South Wales. Abundant on the barren heaths of the interior, from 

 the Lachlan to the Barrier Range ; one of the spear-woods of the natives. 



Wo have it in the National Herbarium, Sydney, from, the following 

 localities : 



Wanganella, near Hay; Ivanhoe, via Hay; Wyalong; "A spreading tree 

 20-25 feet, steins 6-12 inches diameter, plentiful all over the Lachlan 

 district," M urrumbidgee ; Darling to Warrego, Cobar Koad, Dunlop, Louth, 

 Bourke, Coolabah, Nyngan, Tomingley to Peak Hill, Dandaloo, Minore, 

 Coonamble, Bylong, Belltrees, near Scone, Warialda, Narrabri West. 



There is a large clump of Yarran at Belltrees (the most easterly locality 

 recorded), perhaps a thousand trees of all sizes, up to fine umbrageous 

 specimens (growing alone) of 30-40 feet and 1-2 feet trunk diameter. 

 Abundance of seedlings growing where stock are excluded. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 133. 



A. Young foliage (note its comparatively great width). 



B. Flowering branch. 

 c. Flower-head. 



D. Individual bud and bract. 



E. Flower. 



F. Flower opened- out, showing () Calyx, (6) Corolla, (c)| 



Stamens, (ri) Pistil. 



G. Pods. These smaller constricted pods are from Gunbar (W. 



Baeuerlen). 



H. This pod is the normal form, 

 i. Seed. Natural size. 



Acacia Cambagei, R. T. Baker. 

 THE GIDGEE. 



Botanical Name. Camlmqei, in honour of Richard Hind Cambage, Tender 

 retary for Mines, New South Wales, an. enthusiastic botanist. 



Vi'rnacuhir Xames. The aboriginal name " Gidgee " is in almost uni- 

 rsal use. 



The smell of the tree is abominable, and just before rain almost unbear- 

 e, and on this sign people frequently foretell the approach of rain. I 



ive heard of instances in which men who were employed in cutting down 

 ;ree of this species just before rain became so sick as to be compelled to 



ive the tree. 



Aboriginal Name. " Gidgee." Of this word there aro various spellings, 

 ch as " Gidgea," " Gidgi," " Gidgy," " Gidia," " Gidya." Originally .pelt 

 jidgca," which is nearer to the aboriginal pronunciation, but the universal 

 enunciation now is " Gidgee." 



