177 
No. no. 
Acacia rigens, A. Cunn. 
The Nealie. 
(Family LEGUMINOS^E : MIMOSE^E.) 
Botanical description. —Genus, Acacia. (See Part XV, p. 103.) 
Botanical description. —Species, A. rigens, A. Cunn., in G. Don, Gen. Syst., ii, 
403. 
A tall shrub or small tree, either quite glabrous, or pale, or hoary, with a minute pubescence ; 
branchlets somewhat angular, 
Phyllodia linear-subulate, rather rigid, nearly terete, straight or incurved, usually 2 to 3 inches 
long, and very finely striate, with 3 to 5 scarcely prominent nerves, with a short, innocuous, 
oblique or recurved point, but in some specimens 3 nerves on each side are prominent, at 
least at the base. 
Peduncles very short, bearing each a globular head of about 20 flowers, mostly 5-merous. 
Sepals spathulate, united to about the middle. 
Petals smooth. 
/W linear, straight or curved, flat, about 1^ lines broad, much contracted between the seeds, 
the valves coriaceous and convex at the seeds. 
Seeds ovate, longitudinal; funicle with several folds, the last dilated into a turbinate, almost 
cup-shaped, aril.—(B.F1. ii, 337.) 
In Part XVI, page 130 of this work, I published the following note :— 
The “Nealie,” “Nelia,” or “Nilyah.” What is it 1 ? 
In September, 1886, I received from the late K. H. Bennett, of Ivanhoe, vid Hay, some bark, 
with the following label:—“ No. 5, Nealie, Acacia sp.” He gave the following information:—“Small 
tree, 12 to 15 feet in height, timber exceedingly hard and tough and possessed, of a very agreeable 
perfume ; used by natives in manufacture of weapons, &c. Stock will not oat the leaves, even when in a 
starving condition. Very plen'iful in some localities.” 
In 1887, the late Baron von Mueller received from Mrs. Holding, of “ the Upper Darling River,” 
specimens, with the following particulars:—“Nelia of the aborigines. Wood of Myall odour; boughs 
erect; dry ground.” 
In 1902, Acting Forester T. Miller, of Wilcannia, in official correspondence (117-02) referred to a 
wattle as Nelia. 
In April, 1904, I x’eceived (through Mr. R. H. Cambage) from Mr. J. E. Carne, Assistant 
Government Geologist, some twigs labelled “ Nilyah. Obtained from 14 miles south-west of White Cliffs. 
Said to be bushy, and inclined to follow damp courses.” 
Usually only bare leaves (phyllodes) have been sent, and, on one occasion, I received a few dead 
flowers. I have not failed to importune my correspondents, but from various circumstances they have 
been unable to send me twigs in flower, and also pods of the Nelia. Will anyone help 1 
The leaves are, as a rule, silvery white, like those of the Myall, but they are usually more erect 
and more rigid than those of the latter. Different botanists have labelled the plant Acacia pendula (which 
is of course the Weeping Myall) and Acacia homalopkylla (the Yarran); but it is mere guess-work to 
name the Nelia in the absence of good flowers, and perhaps of pods also. 
