234 ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 
Varieties. The plant varying much in its different native localities, and alsc 
having been long cultivated from seeds in Europe, the varieties are nume- 
rous. Some of those included in the following list appear in our Hortus 
Britannicus, and in Don’s Miller, as species ; while some hybrids, such as R. 
hybrida and R. intermédia, might also have been considered as varieties, 
but we have preferred keeping them apart. 
¥ R. P. 2 flore liteo Dumont 6. p. 140. has the flowers yellow. 
¥ R. P. 3 inérmis Dec. Prod. ii. p.261., Dec. Cat. Hort. Monsp. 136.— 
Prickles wanting, or nearly obsolete. Leaflets flat. Plant of free 
growth, in which respect it differs from R. P. umbraculffera. 
¥ R. P. 4 crispa Dec. Prod. ii. p. 261.—Prickles wanting. Leaflets all, 
or for the most part, undulately curled. 
¥ R.P. 5 umbracultfera Dec, Prod. ii. p. 261., Cat. Hort. Monsp. 157. 
R. inérmis Dum. Cours. vi. p. 140.— Prickles wanting. Branches 
much crowded, and smooth. Head orbicular. Leaflets ovate. This 
variety is said to have been raised from the seed of R. Psetid-Acacia ; 
and, according to Dumont de Courset, to have yellow flowers. It 
has been common in British gardens since 1820, but has not yet 
flowered in this country. 
¥ R. P. 6 tortudsa Dec. Prod. ii. p. 261.; and the plate in Arb. Brit., Ist 
edit., vol. v.— Branches much crowded, and twisted. Racemes simi- 
lar to those of R. Psetd-Acacia, but smaller and fewer-flowered. 
R. P. 7 sophorefolia Lodd. Cat. 1830 has the leaves large, and some- 
what like those of Sophdra japénica. 
R. P. 8 amorphefolia Lk. has leaves somewhat like those of Amérpha 
fruticdsa. 
R. P 9 stricta Lk. has the general tendency of the shoots upright ; 
but still the plant is not so fastigiate as the Lombardy poplar. 
R. P.10 procera Lodd. Cat. 1830. — A tall vigorous-growing variety. 
R. P. 11 péndula Ort. Dec. p. 26. — The shoots are somewhat droop- 
ing, but not very decidedly so. 
¥ R. P.12 monstrésa Lodd. Cat. 1830.—The leaves are large, and twisted. 
* R. P.13 macrophylla Lodd. Cat. 1830 has the leaves long, and the 
leaflets broad. 
¥ R. P. 14 microphylla Lodd. Cat. 1830, R. angustifolia Hort., has the 
leaves small, and the leaflets narrow. 
¥ R. P. 15 spectébilis Dum, has large leaves and is without prickles: it 
produces straight vigorous shoots, which are angular when young. 
It was raised from seed by M. Descemet, at St. Denis, and was 
formerly known in the French nurseries by the name of Acacia 
agagante (enticing). 
* R. P. 16 latisiliqua, the broad-podded locust, is mentioned mn Prince’s 
Catalogue for 1829. 
Most of these varieties are tolerably distinct in the foliage when the plants 
are young. Those best worth cultivating, for the shape of the tree, are R. 
P. umbraculifera, the parasol acacia; R. P. péndula; R. P. stricta, the 
upright-growing sort ; and R. P. spectabilis. With regard to the yellow- 
flowered variety, it may be worth continuing by grafting or suckers; but, to 
make quite sure of having white flowers, the trees producing them ought to be 
propagated by grafting also; as plants raised from seed, though for the most 
part they have white flowers, yet occasionally produce yellowish ones. 
The wood, which is commonly of a greenish yellow colour, marked with 
brown veins, is hard, compact, and susceptible of a bright polish : it has a good 
deal of strength, and is very durable; but it has not much elasticity, and is 
somewhat liable to crack. A cubic foot of locust wood, newly cut, weighs 
63 lb. 3 oz. half-dry, 56 lb. 40z.; and, when quite dry, only 48 lb. 4.02. Its 
value for fuel, when compared with that of the beech, is as 12 to 15. For 
duration Hartig places it immediately after the oak, before the larch and the 
RHR HR HO FH 
