XXX. LEG-UMIN0S2E 
151 
Trees or shrubs, erect or climbing, spinous or prickly. 
Leaves 2-pinnate ; rachises often glandular; pinnules opposite; 
leaflets usually numerous, small, Ao - J in. , opposite, entire. Flowers 
small, barely J in. long, usually yellow, in globose heads or 
cylindric spikes, axillary or paniculate at the end of branches. 
Calyx bell-shaped, 4- or 5-toothed or lobed. Petals 4 or 5, more 
or less united. Stamens very many, usually more than 50, much 
longer than the corolla, free or united close to the base ; anthers 
minute. Style thread-like ; stigma minute. Pod nearly cylindric 
or flat, 2-valved or indehiscent ; seeds 3-12. 
Flowers in globose heads. 
Trees or shrubs. Heads axillary. 
Heads with a whorl of small bracts at the base. Pod 
glabrous, irregularly cylindric . . . . 1. A. Farnesiana. 
Heads with a whorl of small bracts about the 
middle of the stalk. Pod tomentose, flat, con- 
tracted between the seeds . . . . . 2. A. arabica. 
Climbing shrub. Heads panicled . . . . 5. A. ccesia. 
Flowers in cylindric spikes. 
Leaves 3-6 in. Pinnules 10-20 pairs. Leaflets 
narrowly oblong 3. A. Catechu. 
Leaves 1-2 in. Pinnules 2-3 pairs. Leaflets obovate 4. A. modesta. 
1. Acacia Farnesiana, Willd . ; FI. Br. Bid. ii. 292. An erect 
shrub ; branches zigzag, covered with minute, raised, grey dots. 
Leaves 1^-2 in. ; stipules spinescent ; pinnules 4-8 pairs ; 
leaflets 20-40 on a pinnule, narrowly oblong. Flowers deep 
yellow, fragrant, crowded in long-stalked, globose heads ^ in. 
diam., forming axillary clusters of 2-5 ; heads with a whorl of 
small bracts at the base. Pod glabrous, thick, irregularly 
cylindric, often curved, 2-3 in. ; seeds separated by dry, spongy 
tissue, and arranged obliquely in 2 rows. 
Sutlej valley, Suni ; January-March. — Throughout India, ascending to 
3000 ft. Often planted. — Nearly all hot countries. 
The pods and bark are used in native medicine and for tanning ; the flowers 
in perfumery. Native name Kikar. Cultivated in S. Europe. 
2. Acacia arabica, Willd . ; FI. Br. Ind. ii. 293. A tree 
attaining 50 ft. in the plains but usually stunted in the hills ; 
branches zigzag, pubescent. Leaves 1-2 in. ; stipules spinescent, 
white and very long on old branches ; pinnules 3-6 pairs ; 
leaflets 20-40 on a pinnule, narrowly oblong. Flowers yellow, 
fragrant, crowded in long-stalked, globose heads \ in. diam., 
forming axillary clusters of 2-5 ; stalks bearing just above the 
middle a whorl of small bracts. Pod stalked, grey-tomentose, 
flat, 3-6 in., contracted between the circular seeds. 
Sutlej valley ; July-September. — Throughout India, ascending to 3000 ft. 
— Arabia, Africa. 
The hard, tough and very durable wood is widely used in the construction 
of agricultural implements, boats, tent-pegs, &c. The gum procured by incisions 
made in the branches is used in native medicine, and by dyers and cloth- 
printers ; it forms part of the various gums exported as East Indian gum 
