,99 



cannot be called ' timber,' as not over one in 5,000 could be got 6 feet long, 

 6 inches in diameter, and straight." At the same time the Yarran, in some 

 districts, exhibits a better trunk than that. 



Habitat. — It is a dry-country species, confined to N^ew South Wales, 

 Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. 



In the " Flora Australiensis " it is recorded from : — 

 New South Wales. — Abundant on the barren heaths of the interior, frona 

 the Lachlan to the Barrier Range; one of the spear-woods of the natives. 



iWe have it in the N"ational Herbarium, Sydney, from the following 

 localities : — 



Wanganella, near Hay; Ivanhoe, via Hay; Wyalong; "A spreading tree 

 20-25 feet, stems 6-12 inches diameter, plentiful all over the Lachlan. 

 district," Murrumbidgee; Darling to Warrego, Cobar Road, Dunlop, Louth, 

 Bourke, Coolabah, Ifyngan, Tomingley to Peak Hill, Dandaloo, MSnore, 

 Coonamble, Bylong, Eelltrees, near Scone, Warialda, Karrabri West. 



There is a large clump of Yarran at Belltrees (the most easterly locality 

 recorded), perhaps a thousand trees of all sizes, up to fine umbrageous 

 specimens (growing alone) of 30-40 feet and 1-2 feet trunk diameter. 

 Abundance of seedlings growing where stock are excluded. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 133. 



A. Toung foliage (note its comparatively great widtb). 



B. Flowering branch. 



0. Flower-head. 



D. Individual bud and bract. 



E. Flower. 



F. Flower opened out, showing — (a) Calyx, (6) Corolla, (c)j 



Stamens, (d) Pistil. 



G. Pods. These smaller constricted pods are from Gunbar (W. 



Baeuerlen). 

 H. This pod is the normal form. 



1. Seed. Natural size. 



Acacia Cambagei, R. T. Baker. 



The Gidgee. 



Botanical Name. — Camibapei, in honour of Richard Hind Cambage, Under 

 Secretary for Mines, New South Wales, an enthusiastic botanist. 



Vernacular Names.— The aboriginal name " Gidgee " is in almost uni- 

 versal use. 



The smell of the tree is abominable, and just before rain almost unbear- 

 able, and on this sign people frequently foretell the approach of rain. I 

 have heard of instances in which men who were employed in cutting down 

 a tree of this species just before rain became so sick as to be compelled t* 

 leave the tree. 



Aboriginal Name. — " Gidgee.'' Of this word there are various spellings, 

 uch as " Gidg«a,'; " Gidgi," " Gidfey,'; '; Gidia," " Gidya." Originally spelt 

 Gidgea," which is nearer to the aboriginal pronunciation, but the universal 

 renunciation now is " Gidgee." 



