WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. i 



(<?.) Acacia decurrens, var. Leichhardtii. 



A " GBEEN WATTLE." 



A. decurrens, var. Leichhardtii (B), (2). 



Acacia mollisstma, AVilld., var. Leichhardtii. E. v. M. (incd). 



LOCALITIES. 



Queensland. Between Archer's Station and Biron and towards the Bunya, 

 Leichhardt (B). ; Maroochie, Bunya Mountains (2). 



New South Wales. Mogo, Moruya ; Nelligen, Bateman's Bay. Pound also 

 in the Monaro and Braidwood districts and in the Jingera Mountains. 



The bark of this variety is used by the local tanners, and is spoken of 

 fairly well as regards percentage of tannin, but is not much liked on account 

 of its being considered too hard and fibrous, and therefore difficult to break 

 up in the mill. 



It is a common belief amongst tanners (and at present I am not prepared 

 to say what basis of truth it has, that barks much subjected to frost and 

 snow are much richer in tannin than those not so subjected. The present 

 sample is from a tree grown in a very cold district. It was collected October, 

 1888, at Monga, from trees 20 to 25 feet high, and 6 to 18 inches in diameter 

 growing on granite soil. Thickness of bark about jVinch. A sinootliish 

 bark of a light colour, but forming a rather fibrous powder. It was analysed 

 April, 1890, and found to contain 26'4 per cent, of tannic acid, and 45'25 

 per cent, of extract. 



This variety would appear to attain exceptional dimensions at Yalwal, not 

 far from Nowra, as I have been informed that trees in that locality have 

 been stripped of the following diameters, viz. : 9, 12, 18, and 30 inches. 

 The last diameter is certainly extraordinary, and I have not heard of 

 authentic measurements of any variety of Acacia decurrens giving over 24 to 

 30 inches, and then only in exceptionally favourable localities ; but my inform- 

 ation appears to be quite reliable, and I have heard from another source of the 

 immense size of the trees in this locality. The bark is no less than 1 inch 

 thick and must have come from a huge wattle. It is scaly on the outside 

 and reminds one of mountain hickory bark (A.penninervis). It was stripped 

 in March and analysed the same month, with the result of 29'25 per cent, of 

 tannic acid and 46*75 per cent, of extract. A second specimen from a tree 

 18 inches in diameter gave 25'75 per cent, of tannic acid and 40*8 per cent, 

 of extract. A third specimen from a tree 9 inches in diameter gave 26 per 

 cent, of tannic acid and 44'05 per cent, of extract. 



