Synoptical and Specific Descriptions. 57 
A. retinens. (New species.) Vern. names— 4, Insibebe or bebe; 15, Mshakwe. A shrub 2-3 metres high, or occasionally a small tree, gregarious to the exclusion of 
ot er in s. tipuar spines 5-10 m.m. long, strong, sharply hooked, often altered by insect parasites into hard swollen spines 3-4 c.m. long, 1 c.m. diameter with 
t e points s arp an 00 e . Leaves 2 5-4 c.m. long, with 5-7 pairs of pinnae, each with 12-14 leaflets which are 2 m.m. long, linear, pubescent and ciliatc. All 
young parts ense y puescent, including spines, twigs and pods; with age these become nearly glabrous, Inflorescence nearly capitate on 2-3 c.m. peduncles 
racte eow t e mi le. Pod 2 5-4 c.m. long, 1 c.m. wide, straight, flat, dehiscent, with about 4 compressed brown seeds with a cordate spot bordered white 
on each. Umbelusi and Lebombo (extra-tropical). A most adherent “ Wacht-em-bitje” said by Mr. Stem to be highly valuable for the rough cordage from the 
bark, w 11c is too dear for commerce but for durability is not excelled. The curious gall-spines are constantly present and are a curious development ; galls of the 
same nature also occur occasionally on A. horrida, and more regularly on the exotic A. cornigera. Sim. 6391. 
Plate XL. A. 
A. arabica, Willd. Vern. names 4,Tchanga or Chenga; 6, Shangaira and Chicai ; 15, Isitwete ; io, Mungu-m-chcn and K. gamo-sena. In this Province a flat-topped tree 
3-6 metres high with a rugged black stem, and usually well supplied with straight white stipular spines 5 m.m. to 7 c.m. long, the larger spines up to 7 m.m. diameter at 
base. Leaves 7-10 c.m. long ; pinnte 6-S pairs ; rachis pubescent ; leaflets 10-12 pairs, 6 m.m. long, 2 m.m. wide, linear-oblong. Peduncles clustered, axillary, 3-7 
c.m. long, bracted rather below the middle, with capitate or sub-spicate inflorescence and often a few flowers at the bracts ; occasionally spicate and capitate 
inflorescences occur on the same branch. Pod 15 c.m. long, 1 c.m. wide, stipitate, straight, moniliform, glabrous or pubescent. The type of this species belongs to 
North Africa; the South African form is var. Kraussiana characterised by long spines and deeply crenatc but scarcely moniliform, toinentose pods. Seldom 
gregarious, but more generally distributed throughout the Province, as also throughout tropical and sub-tropical Africa than any other species, Abundant in Maputa 
and Natal; seldom of timber size, but it makes first-rate fuel. “On the Upper Nile this species attains a large size, the trunk measuring 8 or 10 feet in girth. The 
wood is used in boat-building, and the astringent pods are largely used in tanning.” From some of the forms of this tree the gum arabic of commerce is obtained. 
The pod is known as, 10, Messieo or Issaeii or Ensio. 
Plate XXXVI. i, Branch, showing spines; 2, Pod ; 3, Seed ; 4, Tree, (much reduced) ; 5, Flowering branch 
A. horrida, Willd. Vern. names — 1, Thorn-tree, Mimosa; 4, Mungu ; 13, Umnga; 14, Doornboom (Cape Colony) ; Zoet-doorn (Transvaal). A glabrous flat-topped 
tree usually spreading more than its height. Pinnae 2-4 pairs, leaflets 8-12 pairs, linear-oblong. Inflorescence capitate; peduncles many together in axillary clusters, 
or by the absence of leaves forming terminal panicles, bracteate below the middle; flowers bright yellow, sweet scented. Pods 5-12 c.m. long, 6- 12 m.m. wide, 
straight, falcate, or more or less twisted, thinly coriaceous, glabrous, dehiscent, acute, many-seeded, compressed, not or hardly constricted between the seeds. Spines 
in pairs, stipular, straight, acute, from 1-12 c.m. long, white. This is the most common species in Cape Colony, Natal, and Transvaal, but is less common in this 
Province, and in the low tropical districts absent. For illustration and uses see “ Forest Flora of Cape Colony," p. 2 1 1, Plate LXI. 
Var. fransvaa/ensis , Davy, differs in being pubescent on its younger parts. 
A. seyal, Delile. A small tree 3-5 metres high, usually growing in straggling fashion in dense impenetrable masses, and occupying more or less wet ground. Spines 2-5 
c.m. long, slender, white; leaves 5 c.m. long; pinnae 3-4; leaflets 8-20, 5-7 m.m. long, 2 m.m. wide or less ; peduncles axillary, several from an axil, 2-5 c.m. long ; 
flowers capitate; pods 8-12 c.m. long, 6 m.m. wide, much constricted between the seeds; valves thinly coriaceous. Too near A. horrida, from which the more 
constricted pods form the best distinction, and still with a considerable indescribable difference which any native can recognise. Frequent in Maputa and 
Marraquene. 
Plate XXXV. B. 1, Fruiting branch ; 2, Flower-head ; Flower, x 3. 
A. natalitia, E. Mey. Concerning this species which Mr. Burtt-Davy collected on the Komati River, he says : — “ Nearly related to A. horrida, but apparently a valid 
species, distinguished by the much narrower leaflets and characteristically pale bark, as compared with the dark-brown, almost black, bark of A. horrida. ’ 
A. hirtella, E. Mey. Vern. names — 4, Mungu-manzi ; 10, Egamosena. A very robust tree, densely pubescent on the younger parts, with heavy dark green foliage. 
Spines in pairs, apparently stipular, 1-5 c.m. long; pinnte about 5 pairs; leaflets 10-15 pairs, 5-7 m.m. long, 2 m.m. wide. Inflorescence capitate, peduncles several 
'Acacia retinens. (Sp. nov.) Frutex 2-3 m. altus, vel arbor parva, densissime gregaria, armata stipulis spinosis 5-10 m.m. longis vulidis hamatis, vcl viepe in gallas inxcctorum 3-4 c.m. longas 1 c.m. 
diam., apicem versus hamatas mutatis ; foliis 2-5-4 c.m. longis, pinnis 5-7-jugis, foliolis 12-14-jugis 2 m.m. longis, linearibus, pubcsccntibus ciliatis; partibus junioribus (ramubs, spinis, fructibus inclusis) pubcscenlia 
densa vestitis, demum subglabris ; inflorescentia sub-capitata ; pedunculo 2-3 c.m. longo, infra medium bracteato ; kguminc 2-5-4 c m. lnngo, 1 c.m. Into, recto, piano, circitcr 4-spermo, debisccnte, scmimbus 
fuscis compressis, macula cordata albomarginata notatis. Umbelusi et Lebombo. Sim 6391. 
H 
