346 THE FLORA Off THE NORTHERN TERRITORY. 



So far as the evidence is available at present, it is not a strong species, but I 

 thinksufficiently different from its nearest ally, A.tumida, F.v.M. Goodwill 

 result from drawing special attention to its characters, and I believe that further 

 acquaintance will increase its stabiUty. We require further information ia 

 regard to quite a number of Northern Territory species. 



Affinities. 



1. With A. tumida, F. v. M. — ^This species is the one to which it is closest 

 related. 



The phyllodia of A. tumida are larger, and, speaking generally, more 

 glabrous, but we have specimens of A. tumida from North Western Australia 

 more tomentose than any I have seen in A. difficilis. 



The flowers of the two species closely resemble each other. A difference 

 appears to be in the calyx which, in the proposed new species, appears to have 

 the sepals broader and more silky-hairy. In the new species the bracts appear 

 to be hooked or nail-headed rather than fohar, but this difierence may be only 

 apparent. 



The pods of the two species seem, however, sufficiently different, those of 

 A. tumida much broader and with fleshier valves, while the seeds are more 

 obliquely arranged, and, in the only specimen I have seen with sound seeds 

 (Dillon's Springs, East Kimberley, W. V. Fitzgerald, October, 1906), the seeds 

 are ovoid to pear-shaped, and with the funicles missing. They are the shape of 

 those depicted in the " Iconography," rather than the oblong shape of the new 

 species. 



In comparison with the figure of A. tumida in ""Iconography of Aus- 

 tralian Acacias," it would appear that the aril of the new species is more hood- 

 shaped, and extends for a greater distance over the seed. 



The bracts of A. tumida are figured toothed ; only entire ones have been 

 noted in the new species. 



2. With A. holcocarpa, Benth. — This is another terete-podded species 

 with which it may be compared, but the funicle is long and straight, making the 

 seeds pendulous when the valves are opened. The sepals and the comparative 

 length of sepals and petals are very different in the two species. 



3. With A. retinervis, Benth. — The new species can be compared with 

 A. retinervis, of which, however, the pod is not known. 



The phyllodes of the two species have a general resemblance, but in the 

 new species there may be as many as 14 intermediate longitudinal veins seen 

 under the lens ; in A. retinervis they are fewer and anastomosing. 



Tn A . retinervis the sepals are not separated much more than half way down 

 the petals ; they come off in one piece, and are much less transparent than in 

 the new species. 



38. A. Simsii, A. Gunn, var. multisiliqua , Benth. (B. Fl. ii., 383). 



In describing this variety, Bentham quotes R. Brown's specimens from the 

 Carpentaria Islands (Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria), and under " North 

 AustraUa" the only locaUty given for A. Simsii is " Islands of the GuK of 

 Carpentaria." 



Our specimen of A. Simsii collected at " Bay of Inlets" Banks and 

 Solander, and figured in Illustr. Bot. Cook's Voyage, tab. 84, p. 27, is also var. 

 multisiliqvM, although the pods figured are short and broad. 



Tumiag to the " Iconography of Austrahan Acacias'' (Mueller), the two 

 cenft'al drawings of flowering specimens are var. multisiliqua. 



