318 
wattle. It is from a younger tree to that already described, and it is almost perfectly 
smooth and of a light-brown colour. The collector reports : " When fresh it is of a 
beautiful bright-green colour, much like the bark of A. decurrens. I have found it easier 
to Btrip than any other bark I have stripped yet out west." It is very compact. 
Average thickness, | inch. 
Timber. Usually a small, low, spreading tree. The timber is soft, but very 
tdughi arid the young twigs are armed with slender, acute spines or thorns. 
In western New South Wales the presence of this tree in any locality is always 
considered a sure indication of underground water. Mr. W. Scott, of Whittabranah, 
Grey Ranges, New South Wales, informed me, over thirty years ago, that in sinking 
wells he has traced the roots of this Acacia down to a depth of 80 to 90 feet, and it 
certainly looked the freshest green of all the plants in the district. 
Size. Height up to 30 or 40 feet. 
Habitat. The type came from the Northern Territory (Victoria River), but 
as usual, Mueller had the bad habit of quoting more than one locality for his species, 
e.g., " Plains of Promise," Gulf of Carpentaria, in addition. It is found in the drier 
parts of all the States of the mainland. It is commonest in the tropics. 
Following are some specimens in the National Herbarium, Sydney : 
Western Australia. Isdell River, West Kimberley, tropics. (W. V. Fitzgerald, 
No. 1189). Mount Narryer, Murchison district (Isaac Tyson, per R. Helms). 5 feet 
high, Nannine (W. V. Fitzgerald). Cue (J.H.M.). 
South Australia. Collected by Mueller about 1851, and communicated by 
Dr. F. W. Steward from Melbourne Herbarium. Probably from " Low sand-hills 
or arid salt-bush plains towards the junction of the rivers Murray and Darling" (as 
already quoted in PI. Viet., and also quoted by Bentham in B. Fl., ii, 360). 
Murray River (J. Staer). " Prickly Acacia," Mount Lyndhurst (Max Koch). 
Moolooloo Station, between Blinman and Beitana (Mrs. R. S. Rogers). Hergott 
Springs (Walter Gill). 
Northern Territory. The type came from the Northern Territory, as already 
quoted. 
Hell Gate, Roper River (W, Baldwin Spencer). The following four specimens 
were collected by Gerald F. Hill : 
84. " Idracowra Station, Finke River, 6th March, 1911. Host of No. 35." 
Phyllodes and pods. 
109. " Jt miles eaafc of Hermannsburg, FUike River, 21st March, 19U. Up to 
18 feet." PhyUods* and pods. 
505. " 38 miles south-east Newcastle Waters, stunted bush on plains. 9th August, 
1911." In flower. 
(568. " Head of Macarthur River, Northern Territory, small tree- 3rd September, 
1911." In flower. 
