1 24 LegUminOSCZ. [Acacia.. 



of Mannar, where it composes almost the whole forest, and from the 

 horizontal arrangement of the branches gives it a very peculiar aspect. 

 The trees, when covered in Feb. with sheets of white blossom, look like 

 old hawthorn trees. It is cultivated in a few Colombo gardens for orna- 

 ment, and has occasionally appeared on the shore there, no doubt brought 

 with ballast from Tuticorin, where it is also abundant. 



The wood is very hard and heavy, pale yellow, and when fresh cut has 

 a faint alliaceous smell. It is much used for firewood, and there is a 

 large export from Mannar to S. India (Tuticorin and Negapatam) 

 amounting in 1890 to 3,446,422 logs, value Rs. 68,243 (as I am informed 

 by Mr. M. S. Crawford). 



The pods are largely used as food for sheep, goats, and cattle in the 

 dry season. 



The description under this name in Fl. B. Ind. is partly made up from 

 some other species. 



3. A. eburnea, Willd. Sp. PL iv. 1081 (1805). Udai-vel, Kal- 

 udai, T. 



Thw. Enum. 99. C. P. 1521. 



Fl. B. Ind. ii. 293. Roxb. Cor. PL t. 199 (not good). 



A large bush or small tree, much branched, bark of young 

 branches purplish-brown, smooth, stipular thorns always 

 straight, varying in size from ^ to 2\ in., gradually tapering 

 from a broad base to a very sharp point, ivory-white, polished ; 

 1. small, arranged as in the last, pinnae 2-7 pair, ^-| in., 

 glabrous, Iflts. minute 10-16 (5-8 pair) oblong, obtuse ; fl. as. 

 in the last, heads \ in. diam., bracts about middle of peduncle ; 

 pod 3-4 in. by f in. wide, shortly stalked, compressed, more 

 or less falcately curved, pointed, glabrous, veiny, 6-9-seeded, 

 slightly compressed between the seeds. 



Dry and desert regions, especially near the coast ; rather common. 

 Trincomalie ; Hambantota District, abundant ; Jaffna, and the whole west 

 coast to Puttalam. Fl. Dec.-Feb.; bright dark yellow. 



Also in India, Affghanistan, and Arabia. 



Cordiner ('Ceylon,' ii. 5) noticed this in 1804 on the coast north of 

 Aripo, and calls it the ' Cockspur Thorn,' a very appropriate name. 



The wood is small but very hard, yellowish-white. 



4. A. tomentosa, Willd. Sp. PI. iv. 1087 (1805). Anaimulli, T. 

 Thw. Enum. 99. C. P. 744. 



Fl. B. Ind. ii. 294. 



A small bushy tree, bark yellowish-grey with large lenticels, 

 purplish on twigs, young parts tomentose, stipular thorns 

 straight, broad at base and rapidly tapering to sharp point, 

 varying in size, the larger ones reaching 3! in. and over \ in. 

 wide at base, inflated, pubescent when young, afterwards 

 glabrous, grey becoming black, very sharply pointed ; 1. longer 

 than in last, rachis i|~3| in., flat, very pubescent, pinnae 6-10 

 pair, i-i| in., the lower ones shortest, lflts. 16-32 (8-16 pair),. 



