NOTES ON ACACIA. 509 



Mr. Baker (loc. cit.) says (b) "The phyllodes (of A. ixio- 

 phylla and A. fuliginea) have quite a different shape and 

 are larger in size." Let us consider these points seriatim* 



Shape. — The original shape is "narrow oblong lanceolate, 

 sub-falcate, with an oblique apex." 



Bentham later (B. PI. ii, 387) does not alter this descrip- 

 tion in an important manner. Mr. Baker figures A. ixio- 

 phylla much longer and narrower than A. fuliginea. 



After examining a long series I fail to find any difference 

 between A. ixiophylla and A. fuliginea in respect of shape. 



Size. — The original description for A. ixiophylla says 

 "under an inch in length, scarcely two lines broad." In 

 B. Fl. ii, 387, he alters it to f to 1|- or rarely nearly 2 in. 

 long, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 lines broad. 



Mr. Baker gives the size of A. fuliginea as "2 to 3 or 

 even 4 cm. long, and varying up to 1 cm. wide." These 

 figures are included in Bentham's as regards the length, 

 and, as regards the width, Bentham's are ■§■ to f- inch, and 

 Mr. Baker's are "varying up to § inch." I find phyllodes 

 of A. ixiophylla agreeing with Bentham's dimensions for 

 A. ixiophylla and with Mr. Baker's figure of A. ixiophylla, 

 and with his description and figure of A. fuliginea. 



Venation. — Bentham in the original says "thinly multi- 

 nerved." In B. Fl. ii, 387, he amplifies this into "striate, 

 with numerous fine but prominent nerves, anastomosing 

 when the phyllodium is broad." 



Mr. Baker says of his A. fuliginea "with several nerves 

 and intermediate reticulations." These words are simply 

 Bentham's in another form. In his figure, however, Mr. 

 Baker figures A. ixiophylla with three or more nerves, and 

 A. fuliginea with three to five. I fail to note any differ- 

 ence between them. 



