9 
The peduncles are more slender in A. implexa than in melanoxylon, but this 
is not easy to bring out in the plates. 
Botanical Name. — Acacia, already explained (see ( Part XV, p. 104); 
implexa, Latin, folded. This refers to the folded, twisted pods, which often form a 
tangled mass. In the plate a single pod only is shown, for the sake of clearness. 
Vernacular Names. —In the early days this was known as “ Hickory ” and 
“ Lignum Vitae” because of its tough, hard wood; also “Fish Wattle ” because it 
was one of the trees whose bark was used by the aborigines for throwing into the 
water and stupefying fish. 
I have occasionally known it to be called “ Bastard Myall.” 
Aboriginal Names. —“ Wee-tjellan ” of the aborigines of the Counties of 
Cumberland and Camden, according to the late Sir William Macarthur. “ Millewah ” 
is an aboriginal name formerly in use. 
% 
Leaves. —Mr. W. Baeuerlen informed me that in southern New South Wales, 
near Delegate, cattle have been known to eat the leaves of this tree, stripping off all 
within reach', although grass in the paddock was abundant. 
Bark .—The first account of the use of this bark I can find is the following :— 
Containing much tannin, used by the aborigines to poison fish, and to make embrocations for the 
cure of cutaneous diseases. (Sir William Macarthur in Cat. N.S. W. Products for Paris PJxhibition, 1855.) 
The bark of young trees contains a bitter, doubtless owing to the presence of 
a saponin. The fringe of this subject has alone been touched, and a not too difficult, 
yet a very important, subject for research is open to our young Australian chemists. 
Who will systematically examine our Acacias for saponins ? 
I analysed a sample of this bark ( Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S. TV., 1888, p. 270). 
It gave 7'82 per cent, of tannic acid, and 2054 per cent, of extract. It is slightly 
bitter to the taste, owing to the presence of a saponin, but this sample is from an 
old cultivated tree, and the bitterness is less noticeable; hoary-looking, in layers and 
flakes ; average thickness, ^ inch. 
Bark of this species from Deception Bay has been sent to me by Dr. T. L. 
Bancroft, of Brisbane, and found to contain 14T6 per cent, of tannic acid, and 
3351 per cent, of extract. It was from a tree 15 feet in height and 4 inches in 
diameter. It was stripped in May, and analysed in July. 
Timber. —Wood bard and close-grained, dark brown, with yellowish stripes; 
much in demand for turnery, cog-wheels, and other purposes which need tenacity 
and strength. (Dickinson.) The wood is very similar to that of A. melanoxylon. 
Specific gravity, '711, i.e., weight 44 lb. per cubic foot of dry wood. (Mueller.) 
At Myrtle Creek, about 8 miles from Candclo, N.S.W., it grows to a diameter 
of 2 feet, and is there sawn into boards for making furniture. 
