57 



Wales a clear, hard, yellowish gum has been observed (May,. 

 1888) on a shrub (^llakea acimdaris, R. Br., B, Fl., v., 514) in 

 small quantities. 



Since the above was written Mr. R. T. Baker has been fortu- 

 nate enough to discover gum on a twig of this species near the 

 South Head Lighthouse, at Sydney. The leaves were dead, and 

 matted together by the gum, which is most plentiful near where 

 the wood has been destroyed by an insect. The whole branch as 

 received at once gives the idea that the gum is a pathological 

 product. On healthy branches of the same shrub no trace of 

 gum could be seen. It is perfectly transparent, and of a pale 

 amber colour, much resembling (in outward appearance) ordinary 

 Black Wattle gum (Acacia decurrens). It is insipid, and when 

 placed in water forms a smooth mucilaginous liquid, having much 

 the consistency of tragacanth under similar circumstances (though 

 without opalescence), and, like it, exceedingly difficult to filter. 

 Following is an analysis : — 



Soluble gum (arabin) ... 16*52 



Pararabin ... ... ... 63-2 



Moisture 19-1 



Ash 1-6 



Hakea Macraeana, F. v. M. 



Found in Southern New South Wales. A recently discovered 

 species. Height, 20 to 30 feet ; diameter, 4 to 14 inches. Sugar 

 Loaf Mountain, Braidwood. 



An almost colourless tasteless gum. Months after collection 

 it is tasteless, like indiarubber, showing its retentiveness of 

 moisture. It swells up in cold water to a great bulk, forming a 

 gelatinous mass very similar to that yielded by Tragacanth under 

 similar circumstances. It however retains the shape of the 

 original pieces for a much longer period than does the latter sub- 

 stance. It seems scarcely to dissolve. Following is an analysis : — • 



Arabin... ... ... 5-8 



Pararabin ... ... 69-94 



Moisture ... ... 22-7 



Ash 1-32 



A second sample has been received from Bembooka Mountain, 

 Lyttleton, New South Wales It is a much finer specimen than 

 the preceding, and I am alDle to make a more definite statement 

 concerning it. It is from an aged tree, which has commenced to 

 decay in the centre. It consists of large tears up to two inches 

 long, and one inch broad, and attached to each of these large 

 ones are a number of vermiform tears of two or three lines in 



