108 AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 



numbers of yellow globular heads. The leaves in some 

 species are twice or thrice pinnated, and present an elegant 

 feathery appearance. In others, particularly those found 

 in the drier parts of Australia, the true leaves are seldom or 

 never developed. In their absence the leaf -stalk becomes 

 flattened, and assumes a leaf-like appearance. These 

 dilated leaf-stalks, termed phyllodes, fulfil the functions 

 of leaves, and are singularly varied in form in the different 

 species. 



Acacia dealbata. Silver Wattle. Australia and Tasmania. 

 The leaves are hoary and pubescent, presenting a silvery 

 appearance. There are ten to twenty pairs of pinnas, each 

 bearing thirty to forty pairs of linear leaflets. The flower 

 panicles are large with globose yellow heads Jin. in diameter. 

 The pods are straight or flattened 2in. to Sin. long. The 

 species is much cultivated on the Riviera for its flowers, which 

 are sent in large quantities to this country in winter under 

 the popular name of " Mimosa." It can be grown in the 

 open-air along the South Coast of England. It has attained 

 a height of 60ft. after seventeen years' growth from seed at 

 Abbotsbury, where it produces flowers annually in great 

 abundance, and good seed from which plants have been raised. 

 A moderately large tree was in flower (in February) at 

 Broadstone in the garden of the late Dr. Russell Wallace ; 

 and a similar tree, also in flower, is flourishing in Alumdale 

 Road, Alum Chine, Bournemouth. 



The bark of an allied species A . decurrens known as the 

 Black or Green Wattle, is very rich in tannin. It is being 

 largely grown in Natal and some parts of India as a tan-bark 

 tree. 



A. melanoxylon. Black Wood. Australia and Tasmania. 

 It is seldom that true leaves are produced on this species. 

 Their place is taken by rather leathery phyllodes from 2Jin. 

 to 4in. long. Very occasionally true pinnate leaves are present 

 on young trees. Flower heads are minute, thirty to forty in 

 a head. Pods linear, flat, 2in. to 4in. long. At Abbotsbury 

 a tree planted twelve years ago was about 35ft. high, and 



