53 
Affinities. This wattle belongs to the series Uninerves and the long sub- 
series Racemose. Because of the general similarity of the structure of the flowers, 
Acacia Mabellce has hitherto been assumed to be a form of A. penninervis; the seed and 
seedling show that it is not closely related to that species. From the point of view of 
the seed, with its encircling funicle, its affinity must be sought for near A. retinodes 
Schlecht., and A. rubida A. Cunn. 
1. With A. retinodes Schlecht. 
The phyllodes of the new species are longer, the marginal veins more marked, and the lateral veins 
different. The lateral veins in A. relinodes (a Victorian and South Australian species) are more or less 
parallel to the mid-rib ; in A. Mabellce they are attached to the mid-rib at an acute angle. 
The flowers of the new species are fewer in the head and are more squat than those of A. relinodes, 
which also have the tips of the petals recurved and the pedicels glabrous. The rhachiseo of the inflores- 
cence are without the golden yellow pubescence to be seen in A. Mabellai. 
The pods of A. retinodes are narrower, but the funicles are not dissimilar. 
The two species bear, however, such general and detailed resemblance to each other that it is 
obvious that they are closely related. At the same time I am satisfied that the species are sufficiently 
distinct from each other. 
2. With A. rubida A. Cunn. 
A. MabellcB resembles it in seedlings and encircling funicle to the seed only. The phyllodes of 
A. rubida are much coarser, of a different colour, and they generally have a fine more or less hooked tip. 
They have not the pendulous appearance of A. MabeUce, neither is the persistent bipinnate foliage of 
A. rubida so obvious. The stems and rhachis of A. rubida are waxy smooth except at the extreme tips, 
which have a yellow pubescence. * 
The flowers also of A. rubida are of a rich golden yellow, while in the new species they are of a pale 
whitish cream colour, and the rhachis matted with hair. 
3. With A. penninervis Sieb. 
The rhachis of the new species is densely clothed with a golden pubescence; it is smooth in 
A. penninervis, though there is a tomentum of a similar character (though less copious), in the variety 
falciformis of A. penninervis. 
The venation of the phyllodes is indistinct, but similar to that of A. penninervis ; there is no 
intramarginal vein, but the edges of the phyllodes are nerve-like and the mid-rib prominent on both sides. 
There is a gland as in A. penninervis. The phyllodes are much longer than those of A. penninervis. 
As regards the new species, the flowers are cream-coloured and sweet scented ; those of A. pen- 
ninervis have less odour. The petals are five or six in number, glabrous, broader than those of A. 
penninervis, and much more frail in texture. 
The seeds of the new species have a double funicle completely surrounding them ; those of 
A. penninervis have a shorter funicle. Bentham (B. Fl. ii, 362) says, " funicle long, dilated and coloured 
nearly from the base, extending round the seed and bent back on the same side, so as to encircle it in a 
double fold." 
I have not been able to confirm Bentham's observations in this respect. In the specimens belonging 
to the typical form that I have been able to examine, the funicle has hardly extended half round the seed. 
In var. falciformis I have observed funicles that I cannot distinguish from those of the normal form and 
in addition, doubly folded funicles extending more than half way round the seed, but never doubly 
encircling funicles as in A. MabellcR. 
The seedlings of the two species may be briefly contrasted as follows : the phyllodes of the former 
aic shorter and very much broader and have a distinct venation. 
C 
