52 



ACACIA DEALBATA. 



of a soft and delicate yellow, differing from that of any other species we know, 

 and harmonising delightfully with the pale and elegant foliage. The sweet fluid 

 which is secreted by the glands at the base of the pinnae proves very attractive to 

 insects. In the specimen now before us, we find an insect in almost every gland. 

 We observe also that the leaf possesses the power of contracting upon the 

 application of stimuli, although in a very much less degree than Mimosa pudica, or 

 Dioncea muscipula. The minute and closely arranged leaflets, their glaucous, or 

 rather whitened hue, together with the fine panicle of inflorescence, give this 

 shrub a very striking appearance. 



Our drawing was made from a magnificent specimen in the collection of Mrs. 

 Willmore of Strawberry Vale, Edgbaston, near Birmingham. 



Cultivation. — This is a greenhouse plant, and is well adapted for planting out 

 in the border of a conservatory where it will have room, and if occasionally stopped 

 at the top of the leading shoots so as to make it bushy, it will have a very hand- 

 some appearance. It flowers in spring. The soil most suitable for it is a mixture 

 of loam, peat, and sand, either for pot culture, or for the border of the conservatory. 

 It may be increased by cuttings planted in sand, and placed in a gentle bottom 

 heat. The best plants are raised from seeds, which are ripened in tolerable 

 abundance when planted out. Being one of the hardiest of the Acacias, it also 

 does well planted against a south wall, where it can have a little protection during 

 the severity of the winter. It may also be planted out in the open ground, as a 

 standard, in the south of England, and in sheltered situations in Scotland upon 

 the sea-coast, with every probability of success. 



The genus Acacia contains about three hundred species, which are, for the 

 most part, natives of New Holland. 



From this genus is obtained the gum-arabic of commerce, which is procured 

 from several species, but chiefly from A. vera, A. arabica, A. Ehrenbergii, A. tortilis 

 and, perhaps, many others. 



The bark of many of the species of Acacia is powerfully tonic and astringent ; 

 which latter property renders it valuable as an article in the process of tanning 

 leather. In fact, the bark of some of the species contains tannin in such quantity 

 that it has become an object of commercial speculation ; and, according to the 

 Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, in 1824 some tons of the extract of Acacia 

 bark were imported into this country from New South Wales for the use of 

 tanners. Since that time a preference has been given to the bark itself, of which 

 large quantities are regularly shipped at Hobart Town for England. The rose- 

 wood of commerce is said to be the produce of a species of Mimosa found in the 

 Brazilian forests. 



The generic name is formed from <ka£a> to sharpen, the specific name dealbata 

 alludes to the whitened appearance of the leaves. The dissection shows a single 

 floret with the germ and calyx. 



