FLOWERS OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA. 



85 



action of moderately heated steam. The flowers expand in ten 

 to twenty hours, and last as long afterwards as if cut direct from 

 the tree. Large tin vats are prepared for the purpose, and the 

 process is a very profitable one, as the first consignments of 

 " Mimosa " fetch a high price at the opening of the season. 



Four additional species of Acacia are current articles of 

 commerce, although they stand far behind A. dealbata in every 

 respect. 



A. retinodcs, commonly called A. floribunda (fig. 2), is a 

 dense tree with numerous narrow phyllodes not unlike Willow 

 leaves. The yellow globular blooms are borne in small groups 

 at the end of very slender branchlets. Their great merit consists 

 in being produced all the year round. No other Acacia can be 

 had from the Eiviera through the autumn months. Choice 

 sprigs of A. floribunda are very pretty and graceful. 



A. pycnantha var. petiolaris. — The leaves in this species are 

 reduced to an expanded petiole or phyllode, dull green, broad, 

 more or less sickle -shaped. The glomerules^ of flowers are 

 larger, more dense, and of a deeper colour than those of A. deal- 

 bata, and they come into bloom some weeks later. The golden 

 yellow 7 branches of A. petiolaris are very effective, especially in 

 large masses, but they lack the delicacy and refinement of A. 

 dealbata. 



A. cultriformis (fig. 3) is extremely distinct in appearance. 

 The long, slender shoots are thickly covered with foliage inserted 

 edgewise, of a glaucous or silvery colour, more like scales than 

 leaves. The axillary spikes of flowers stand out near the end 

 of the branch in large numbers, and form a thyrse-like bunch of 

 an intense yellow colour almost verging into orange. A. cultri- 

 formis is in bloom in March and April. 



A. longifolia bears oblong phyllodes, and blooms also in 

 March. The axillary flowers are not compressed into a globular 

 mass as they are in all the foregoing species, but make a sort of 

 cylindrical catkin, one inch or more in length, and of exqui- 

 site beauty. The plant is very hardy and a strong grower. 

 Only the smell is not nice, and is even by some pronounced 

 offensive. 



The so-called St. Helena Acacia, which is a drooping form 

 not far removed otherwise from A. cultriformis ; A. binervata, 

 A. obliqua, A. cyanophylla, A. ulicina, are also very pretty and 



