134 



it, and it is already one of the commonest of cultivated wattles aboiit Sydney 

 — I allude to the so-called Cootamundra Silver Wattle (Acacia Baileyana) . 

 *\8 a matter of fact, it has been largely cultivated (chiefly in Burwood 

 sardens) for years. A Burwood gentleman (Mr. John Dawson), noticing its 

 ornamental character, brought seeds from Cootam^undra, and distributed 

 them amongst his friends. It was for years looked upon (in an indefinite 

 sort of way) as a variety of a well-known wattle, till the Kev. Dr. Woolls 

 brought the matter under the notice of Baron Mueller, who had just des- 

 cribed it under the name it now bears. It is one of the most local of wattles, 

 being naturally found only in a small part of New South Wales — about 

 Cootamundra, Bethungra, Big Mimosa Eun, in the Wagga District, and 

 thereabout. But, comically enough, this exclusively New South Wales 

 Wattle was named and described in a Victorian publication after a dis- 

 tinguished Queensland botanist- — a sort of botanical federation, in fact." 



Botanical Name. — Baileyana, in honour of Frederick Manson Bailey, late 

 Govermnent 'Botanist of Queensland.: 



Vernacular Name. — " Cootamundra Wattle," because of its best-lniown 

 locality. 



Barh. — The bark has been used for tanning, but I am not aware with 

 what result. 



Timber.- — Pale-coloured and worthless except for fuel. 



Size. — Mr. C. W. Darley informed me that near Bethungra he saw a 

 magnificent specimen of this tree. The diameter of the trunk was 25J 

 inches, and the foliage had been nibbled off horizontally, so as to give the 

 tree the general appearance of a gigantic mushroom. This flat portion of 

 the " mushroom " (or greatest spread of the leaves) was no less than 38 feet 

 in diameter. Eollowing are additional dimensions : — Trunk diameter 12 

 inches from the ground, 18 inches. Height to first branch, 7 feet 4 inches. 

 Height of top of tree, 24 feet. 



It was the admiration of the district, but some vandal killed it for the 

 sake of a few pounds of bark. 



Habitat. — Confined to New South Wales, in the district of Cootamundra, 

 Bethungra, &c. Found also on Big Mimosa Run, Wagga District, also 

 parish of Inglebah, county Bourke (Temora), and near Barmedman. 



A small tree, glaucous, and very beautiful, hence largely 'cultivated for 

 ornamental purposes. 



KXTLANATIOX OF PLATE 117. 



A. Flowering branch. 



B. Flower-head. 



c. Individual bud. 



n. Expanded Individxial flower, niiich enlarged. 



E. Flower, opened out, showing — («) Calyx, (h) Corolla, (c) Stamens, 



(rf) Pistil. 



F. Pod. 



G. (.)ne valve of pod, showing seeds. 



II. Seed, showing the I'linicle (the thread-like body attaching the seed: 

 , ' to the back of the pod.) 



