DIMORPHIC FOLIAGE OF ACACIA RUBIDA. 139: 
of A. rubida. On the 6th December, 1913, I collected 
several fruiting specimens, and saw many more, of this. 
species having only the bipinnate leaves. The plants are 
growing in a fairly moist portion of the sandy valley just 
below the residence of Professor David at Woodford, and 
those bearing pods, which were then just ripe, varied in 
height from 9 inches in the stunted forms to 10 feet in the 
luxuriant ones. 
The occurrence is full of interest, especially in connection 
with problems relating to the evolution of the genus Acacia, 
and although A. rubida has developed the dilated petiole, 
in common with scores of other species, in response to some 
requirement, it is able to fulfil all its functions both as 
regards flowering, fruiting, and producing fertile seed, 
either in its original form or its new state or development. * 
This discovery raises the interesting question as to 
whether this species is still developing into a strictly 
phyllodineous Acacia, and will at some future period produce 
flowers and fruits only after the advent of the phyllodia, or 
whether it may not be reverting to its original form and 
will later dispense altogether with the phyllodia. A further 
paper,on Acacia seedlings, which is in course of preparation, 
may help to throw some light on the question of the evolu- 
tion of the genus. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 
Acacia rubida. 
. Cotyledons, 5 days old, with tips of pinnate leaf showing. 
. Cotyledons and pinnate leaf, 2 days later. 
. Twig of plant bearing pods, and having only bipinnate leaves, 
. Twig of plant bearing pods, and having phyllodes. 
. Seeds. 
Numbers 1] and 2, slightly under natural size; 3,4 and 5, slightly 
under half natural size. 
oe © DH He 
1 For figures of pods of Acacia rubida, see Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. Wales, 
xxiI, (1897) p. 695, (R. T. Baker, F.u.s.). Also ‘‘The Forest Flora of 
New South Wales,” Part xuix, p. 185, by J. H. Maiden, F.t.s. 
