45 
1. Variety normalis, Bentli. (B.E1. ii, 415). 
The foliage is more sparse, i.e., less compact and umbrageous, than mollis. Glabrous, or the young 
shoots slightly tomentose-pubescent. 
Decurrent angles from the base of the leaf-stalks along the branchlets extremely prominent. 
Pinnce. —Usually 7-13 pairs. 
Pinnules (leaflets). —30-35 pairs. Slightly distant, say ^ inch to 1 line. Long and narrow 
up to 6 lines. A[any times longer than broad, typically linear, approaching a mathematical 
line. 
Glands.— Numerous along the primary rhachis. The pinnae are opposite, and the glands are at, 
or close to, their junction with the rhachis. Usually only one gland to each pair of pinnae. 
Flower-heads .—Of medium size. About 25 in each variety. 
Calyx. —As long as the petals. Ciliate on interior of lobes. 
Petals .—Slightly depressed. 
Pods. —4 inches in average size. Rather narrow. Fruit compressed somewhat, and contracted a 
little between the seeds. 
The seeds do not appear to vary with the different varieties. 
Arillar appendage .—Pale, much shorter than the seed. This applies also to the other varieties. 
Bract. —Peltate, ciliate; see Explanation of Plate 87 (n), where further particulars are given. 
Botanical Name. — Acacia, already explained, Part XV, p. 104; decurrens, 
Latin, “running down or along,” decurrent, in allusion to the bases of the leaf¬ 
stalks, which run along the branchlets, forming a ridge more or less prominent. 
Vernacular Names (var. normalis). —The “ Black Wattle” of the Sydney 
district. (N.B.—Australians are not always unanimous or consistent in the use of 
the terms Black and Green Wattle for varieties of A. decurrens.) 
“ Sydney Wattle,” the common Black Wattle of the older colonists. 
Aboriginal Name (var. normalis). —Formerly known as “ Book-kcrriking ” 
by the aborigines of the Counties of Cumberland and Camden, New South Wales 
(Macarthur). 
Synonyms (var .normalis). — Mimosa decurrens, Wendl, Bot. Beob.,57; 
Vent. Jard. Malm. t. 61; A. angulata, Desv. Journ. Bot., 1814, ii, 68 ; DC. Prod, ii, 
468 ; A. sulcipes, Sieb., PI. Exs. ; A. adenophora, Spreng. Syst. iii, 140. 
Leaves (var. normalis). —Attention is drawn to the great length and narrow¬ 
ness of the leaflets in this variety. 
Flowers. —It has been thought that the period of flowering affords an 
infallible guide to the discrimination of at least two varieties, e.g., normalis , a winter, 
and mollis, a summer flowerer. Under each variety will he given notes as to the 
months of flowering of some specimens in the National Herbarium, Sydney. The 
present list is of var. normalis, and other varieties will he dealt with separately. It 
will be seen that the time of flowering is not an absolute criterion as to the variety. 
