261 
It is found in every Australian State, and abundantly. Dear little Tasmania is ablaze with it. 
From Sydney to Perth, from Adelaide to Port Darwin, right across the continent from Brisbane to 
Adelaide, thence to the Kimberleys, and so on to the Gulf of Carpentaria and back again, it is one of the 
few flowers that everyone knows, the gum tree being perhaps the only other. 
This is the flower we ask you to think about, and, if you will, wear and cherish on 1st September, 
our Wattle Day. The wattle stands for sunshine, for purity, for beauty, for goodwill throughout 
Australia, for a united happy people Australians first, and then citizens of our respective States next. 
Some friends love the wattle so much that they think that the development of our movement will 
mean destruction to it. I do not think so. For over a quarter of a century I have, in season and out of 
season, been extolling the beauties of our native flowers, and have been doing what I can to diffuse a 
knowledge of them. And I have helped to found the Wattle Day L?ague b ecause I think that it will 
help people to think more about the flower; and increased knowledge will result in greater love of it. 
The Lone Hand, 1st September, 1910. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 224. 
A. Flowering twig from Lake Gillies, S.A. 
B. Flower, 4 -merous. 
C. Pistil. 
D. Bract found at the base of the flower. 
R. Pods from Lake Gillie?, showing the seeds pendulous. 
F. Seed. 
a. nndol. Portions of phyllodc, cl showing the fringe of hairs on either side. The phyllodes 
are sometimes terete, but more generally sub-terete or even quite flattened at the tips. 
