Forage Plants of Australia. 33 



ORDER LEGUMINOS^E. 



ACACIA ANEUKA, P. v. M. 



" Yarren." 



Flora Austr., Vol. II, p. 402. 



A TALL shrubby plant, or small tree, never attaining a much greater height 

 than 20 feet. The phyllodia are narrow-linear, usually flat, but thick and 

 terminating in a recurved point. This plant is peculiar to the arid western 

 plains beyond the Darling River in New South "Wales, and in the interior of 

 South Australia. It has been one of the principal stand-by's for the pastoralist, 

 and has afforded an unfailing supply of good forage during long and severe 

 droughts. Stock of all kinds are remarkably fond of this tree and they will 

 often leave promising feed to browse on its foliage and smaller branches. 

 Its drought-enduring qualities are remarkable. In fact, neither hot winds 

 that periodically blow over the plains during the summer months, nor 

 drought have the slightest effect upon its growth. Some plants which I put 

 out nine months ago, and which scarcely received a shower of rain during the 

 whole summer, are now three feet high and three feet through. This is a 

 proof of the rapid growth of this plant, even in adverse circumstances. Such 

 a valuable forage plant as this should be conserved, and even cultivated; for, 

 if it is cut down in such large quantities during every recurring drought, as 

 in the past, to supply forage for stock, it must in time become exterminated 

 there being no young plants to take the place of those cut down. This 

 cutting down not only destroys its natural way of reproducing itself by seed, 

 but when it shoots out again cattle keep these growths eaten down so 

 closely that the plant has no chance to recuperate. 



It is also worthy of extensive conservation, or even cultivation, for the 

 excessively hard timber it produces, which is of a dark brown colour. The 

 aborigines use the wood of this tree for making into spears, and other 

 defensive and offensive weapons. Europeans might turn this valuable timber 

 to good account where excessively hard wood is required. When left un- 

 molested this tree bears seed in great abundance, which, when sown as soon 

 as it is ripe, germinates quickly. Old seed should be steeped in water for 

 a few days, or carefully torrefied, otherwise they will be a long time in germ- 

 inating. The seed should be sown in the early autumn months, after rain- 

 fall, if possible. 



