424. 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Acacia homalophylla is known by the name of Myal. In 

 the East and West Indies, as well as in tropical America, 

 the genns is represented by large timber trees, and in South 

 Africa by several thorny species, as A. Caffra,A. giraffe, and 

 others, one being peculiar in having fine red wood. 



Acacia Fai-nesiana. A beautiful species, with compound 

 winged leaves and fragrant yellow flowers. It is a native 

 of Syria, and abounds in the neighbourhood of the Dead 

 Sea, where it is covered with Loranthus AcacicB, which, 

 when in blossom, gives the whole tree the appearance of 

 being in a flame of fire. It has become naturalized in Italy 

 and other parts of Europe, where it is much esteemed on 

 account of its highly odoriferous flowers, which by process of 

 manufacture, impart their odour to fat, constituting what is 

 called Cassie Pomade. The Oil of Cassie, used in perfumery) 

 is obtained by macerating the flowers in olive oil. 



The only species of this genus hardy in this country, is 

 A. Julihrissin, a native of the Levant, naturalized in the 

 South of Europe, and introduced into this country more than 

 one hundred years ago. 



The numerous species of Acacia originally belonged to 

 the genus Mimosa of Linnaus. The pods of the latter are 

 separated into valves or joints, which fall away, while in 

 Acacia the pod is plain. Mimosa is, however, still a large 

 genus, consisting of 200 species of trees and shrubs, with 

 compound leaves, many of which are sensitive and collapse 

 when touched or shaken, the Humble Plant [Mimosa pudica) 

 and the Sensitive Plant (M. sensitiva) being examples. 



Their motion, however, differs from that of the Moving 

 Plant {Desmodium gi/rans), a native of India. This is a slender 

 growing plant in hothouses, attaining the height of 2 feet, 

 having trifoliate leaves, the two side leaflets being small, 

 while the centre one is about 2 inches in length, of elliptical 

 form, and thin texture. The name Moving Plant is given 

 to it on account of the two side leaflets being in constant 

 motion, rising and falling alternately, but not regularly as 

 to time. In a large plant, many may be seen in motion at 



