90 
Botanical NaillC. Acacia, already explained (see Part XV, p. 104) ; Oswaldi, 
in honour of Ferdinand Oswald, formerly of Adelaide, and at the time of description, of 
Nordhausen, Prussia. The name is spelt Osswaldi in Mueller's " Census of Australian 
Plants " and " Select Extra-tropical Plants." 
Vernacular Names. It is often called " Umbrella Bush," as it affords 
capital shade. 
We have not quite settled down to agreement about vernaculars in this species. 
Mr. A. W. Mullen calls it " Curly Yarran " and " Nealie." What " Nealie " is, by the 
way, has not been settled. See Part XXX of the present work, p. 177. Mr .L. V. 
d'Apice calls it " Black Yarran," and I have received it also as " Black Myall." In 
cases where it has been sent as " Ironwood," this is owing to confusion with A. excelsa 
(see Part XXXIII of the present work) for the phyllodes (leaves) are a good deal alike. 
It has been sent to me as " Bean Bush," from Moulamein, " because it is prolific 
in pods. It is known as " Coughing Bush " in the Cobar district (Archdeacon Haviland), 
The leaves terminate in short spines, which have earned for the tree the unsuitable name of " Dead 
Finish," the inference being that a traveller, entering cluster of these trees would suddenly find his journey 
finished owing to the resisting nature of these spikes. Even if this species formed scrubs, the leaves are 
harmless compared with those of many others. It is probable that the name properly belongs to some 
other tree, and has been applied to this one by mistake. Still I found it used over a very large area. About 
half-way between Condobolin and Dandaloo it is known by some as Gidgea, its value for stock-whip handles 
having probably caused it to bo confused with the Bourke species of the same name, A. Cambagei, which 
is famous over most parts of tho colony among stockmen. (R. H. Cambage in Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 
p. 326, 1901.) 
Aboriginal Names. " Miljee " is its commonest name ; I believe it originated 
in New South Wales, and suggest that it be adopted as a vernacular. The late Mr. 
K. H. Bennett gave me the name " Middert," as in use by the aborigines of the Ivanhoe, 
via Hay, district. Mr. R. H. Cambage gave the name " Currawa Widgee " as in use 
around Dandaloo, Bogan River, N.S.W. Mr. A. W. Mullen gave me " Middia " as in 
use in the Darling River (Bourke) district. It is known towards the Darling as " Goolia," 
according to Mr. A. C. Loder, Assistant Forester, Broken Hill, New South Wales. 
I have had it under the name of " Karagata " or " Karagatta," as in use in 
Victoria. Mr. Max Koch told me that the blacks around Mount Lyndhurst, South 
Australia, called it " Whyacka." 
Leaves (Phyllodes). It has been quoted as a fodder-plant or browse, but 
it is certainly not of high value for that purpose, for it is dry and hard. Archdeacon 
Haviland, of Cobar, New South Wales, informed me that stockmen in his district call it 
" Coughing Bush " because the pungent points of the phyllodia often stick in their 
throats. Miss Jean E. Mc-Master, of " Babilah," Warialda, tells me that stock will not 
eat it. 
Mr. Bennett told me that in the Hay district sheep, r.nd not cattle, ate the leaves. 
Other correspondents have told me that it is not eaten at all. In a given district, it 
probably depends on the season whether it is eaten or not. 
The phyllodes vary a good deal in width, and the flowers have a heavy perfume. 
