198 
ACACIA PULCHELLA. 
(^PRETTY ZIGZAG-SPINED ACACIA.) 
Generic Character. — See preceding page. 
Specific Character. — A pretty little and very distinct interesting greenhouse plant, growing about 
three and a half feet high. Leaves conjugately pinnate, and very numerous. Floivers solitary, 
forming a small round head, and arising from the axil of the leaf. Spines something shorter th'an 
the leaves, solitary, and rather stiff. 
An interesting' and accurate account of this elegant little pl§nt we find given in 
the Bot. Cab. page 212, in the following words : — '* This beautiful little plant 
is from New South Wales, whence it was introduced about the year 1803. It pro- 
duces its fragrant flowers in May and June in the greatest profusion, generally some 
at the axil of every leaf. The leaves are extremely delicate, and the whole plant 
forms a small prickly bush ; it must be kept in the greenhouse in the winter, and 
will increase pretty well by cuttings ; it flourishes in a loam and peat soil. The 
roots of this and of other acacias have an unpleasant smell, although the flowers are 
so odoriferous. What a curious property is this, that a plant should derive from the 
same nutriment qualities so opposite ? but the more we examine the productions of 
the Almighty, the more shall we ever find that 
' Wonderful indeed are all His w orks ; 
Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 
Had in remembrance always with delight.'" 
We saw a large specimen of this species in full flower in the greenhouse of the 
Royal Gardens at Kew in June last ; it had a beautiful eff"ect, for the little globular 
heads of yellow flowers contrasted so prettily with the neat delicate foliage. The 
scent was delightful. We deemed it a pretty feature among the other plants, and 
as it generally flowers well it doubtless should be in every collection. 
Our drawing was made from a plant which flowered in the greenhouse at Chats- 
worth in June last. 
The two species represented in the plate show the amazing difi'erence in foliage 
of species of the same genus. 
