THE ACACIA. 



ROBINIA PSEUD-ACACIA. 



Natural Order — Leguminos^. 

 Class — DiADELPHiA. Orc?er— Decandria. 



The Acacia, or more properly, the False Acacia, 

 though an American tree, is entitled to a distinct 

 notice among British trees, from its having been 

 one of the first trees introduced into England 

 from North America, from its common occurrence, 

 from the large size which it attains, and from 

 the value of its timber. It was formerly supposed 

 to be identical with the Acacia of Egypt, a tree 

 which was imagined by the early missionaries to 

 have supplied John the Baptist with food in the 

 wilderness. From this circumstance it acquired 

 the name of Locust-tree. The French called it 

 Robinia, after M. Jean Robin (nurseryman to 

 King Henry IV. of France), whose son was the 

 first person who cultivated it in Europe. 



The Acacia is a rough-barked tree, with strag- 

 gling twisted branches, which are elegantly fea- 

 thered with bright green, pinnated foliage. The 

 flowers are shaped like those of the Laburnum, 

 but larger, flesh-coloured or lilac, sweet scented, 

 and hang down in dense clusters. The young 

 shoots are smooth, of a purplish brown hue, and 

 armed with rigid prickles. It was originally 

 introduced and cultivated for its beauty, and 

 during the summer months it is a most elegant 



