NOTES ON ACACIA. 239 



Flower-heads in slender axillary racemes, the peduncles 

 almost filiform. Flowers glabrous, 5-merous, about twenty 

 in the head, which is globular. Bracts at base of flowers 

 not seen. Oalyx narrow; almost linear, free, thin, half as 

 long as the corolla. Petals free, thickened at the apex. 

 Pistil smooth and shiny. Pods and seed not seen. 



Southern Cross (J. H. M., October, 1909). 



Named in honour of Sir David Prain, f.r.s., Director of 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, who has been most kind 

 in assisting me with material of this genus. 



The following specimens are referred to this species : — 



1. A shrub six feet high, Jibberding, Watheroo Rabbit- 

 proof fence, August, 1905, in flower only (Max Koch, 1030a, 

 formerly mixed with and labelled 1030), is referable to this 

 species. The specimens are not good, but the flowers 

 appear to be smaller and with ciliate tips to the sepals. 



2. Ooolgardie, flowers only (H. Nathan, October, 1899, 

 and L. O. Webster, 1900). 



The structure of the flowers is the same as that of A. 

 Prainii, although it appears to have fewer flowers (13-16) 

 in the head, but it has longer and narrower phyllodes, and 

 the varietal name linearis is therefore proposed for it. 



If the phyllodes be alone considered, A. Prainii comes 

 under Pungentes (Uninerves), and in that series would 

 be placed near A, sphacelata, A, genisboides, and A. 

 incequiloba. 



But its racemose inflorescence takes it to Uninerves 

 (Racemosse) where, however, it seems to have no close 

 relations. Its position can be reconsidered when pods are 

 available. 



Affinities. 

 1. With A. sphacelata Benth. In A. sphacelata the 

 phyllodes are smaller, narrower and not flattish. 



