312 
CALYCIFLORJE. 
Pinnae 1-2-paired : leaflets 18-20-paired, linear, subacute, gla- 
brous, but very minutely to the glass, especially at the base, 
ciliated : petiole terminating in a subulate seta, and bearing a 
sessile glandule between every pair of pinnae. Spikes axillary, 
3-4 together, furnished at the base with numerous setaceous 
bracteas, cylindrical, about 2-3 inches in length : peduncle 
terete puberulous, free for about 3 lines at the base, and fur- 
nished there with about 3 subulate bracteas. Flowers subses- 
sile, numerous, crowded, yellowish, delicately fragrant. Petals 
nearly 3 times the length of the calyx, lineari-oblong, villous 
internally towards the apex. Stamens somewhat longer than 
the petals, apparently free to the base, glabrous : anthers sub- 
quadrate. Ovary linear, niveo-villous : style short: stigma 
obtuse. Legume only one (rarely more) in each spike coming 
to perfection, linear compressed, glabrous, of an ochre colour : 
pulp, to the taste, sweetish : seeds numerous, obovate, com- 
pressed, of a clay colour. 
This tree thrives best in a dry district, and hence acquires 
its greatest perfection in the Salt-ponds district, and in the 
plain of Liguanea, towards the sea. The stem may frequently 
be met with 3 feet in diameter, attaining a great height, and 
affording a grateful shelter from the noon-day sun. It is said 
to have been introduced into the country ; but this can scarcely 
be credited, as it remains to be discovered from what country 
it came. It is a very. hardy tree, sending up rapidly a num- 
ber of shoots whenever it has been cut down, so that it can 
only be eradicated from a pasture by burning the roots. 
It disseminates itself by means of the cattle which feed on the 
pods ; it is to be met with in all our plains and lower hills ; and, 
in certain districts, it covers extensive plains. 
A transparent gum, having the appearance, and possessing 
all the properties of gum arabic, may be obtained in consider 
able quantities by wounding the stem and large branches. It 
was probably from this circumstance that the tree was in former 
times mistaken for the Acacia vera, and supposed to yield the 
gum arabic of the shops. As all parts of the tree abound 
with this gummy juice, stock of every kind feed readily on 
the pods, young shoots, and leaves. They may do this witli 
impunity during dry weather, and the pods are even said to be 
as nutritious as corn. After rains, however, the latter are 
very pernicious, and frequent instances yearly occur of horses 
dying from having fed upon them. It would appear, that the 
fatal effects are produced by the seeds germinating in the sto- 
mach of the animal ; for the process is found, on opening the 
body, to have made some progress. In dry w r eather the seeds 
are hard, whereas after rains they are softened and prepared to 
spring. It is probable that it is the carbonic acid which is 
given out during germination that induces the inflammation of 
the stomach and bowels, which is always present in such 
