52 
Loaves. —The scimitar-sliaped leaves (pliyllodes) of this species, with their 
blue-grey, silvery sheen, present an appearance which is characteristic, and which, 
once seen, is never forgotten. 
The tree grows in almost impenetrable forests with open glades, in which are some of the most 
beautiful landscape effects I have ever seen. For the greater part of the year the foliage has ’a brilliant 
aluminium sheen, which, added to the very symmetrical form of growth of the clumps and fringes of the 
forest, gives a very fine effect. (C. J. MoMaster, Chairman, Western Lands Board.) 
Brigalow, the national scrub of Queensland, as it may be called, for it is found there more largely 
than in any of the other Colonies, can scarcely be called a fodder plant, for it is only eaten by stock under 
pressure of hunger, nor will it of itself sustain life, although it may prolong it. It grows all over the north 
of Queensland, both on the coastal and inland waters, and extends west beyond the boundary of the Colony 
until it is supplanted by the mulga. It # is generally, but not always, accompanied by a low undergrowth 
of edible and fattening plants and shrubs, including saltbush. Brigalow, like pine, evinces a great facility 
for. spreading and extending its area on the country being stocked. The reason for this is hard to 
determine. Apparently there is no more encouragement for it to grow after the settlement of the country 
than before. The eating down of the grass and consequent lessened fierceness of the bush fires can have 
nothing to do with it, as brigalow, unlike pine, cannot be destroyed by fire. (Sydney Mail, 1890 ) 
Brigalow is rung with a wide ring as it suckers from the roots. (Forester 
Bishop Lyne, Narrabri.) 
For a popular account of this too plentiful wattle, see a paper by the late 
Bev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, in Froc. Linn. tioc. VIT, 570. 
Fruits — 
Ripe pods-recently sent by Mr. J. Gregson from Warrah, Willow Tree, enable us to complete the 
description of this species in the Flora Australiensis. Pods rather thick but flattened, with thickened 
margins, about 2 lines broad, and usually 11, to 2| inches long, often curved and somewhat restricted 
between the seeds. Seeds comparatively large, brown, not shining, placed longitudinally ; funicle very 
small for the genus, only slightly folded. (Maiden and Betche in Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., XXIV, G43, 
1899.) 
The following memorandum of the Chairman of the Western Lands Board 
Q 
will show that it is not surprising that the fruits were not earlier described. 
I have had a little experience in collecting and germinating Brigalow seed in the Moree District. 
I am under the impression that the tree matures seeds only at long intervals, and the pods appear to hang 
until heavy rains fall, when they burst, and the soft seed falling germinates immediately. I have tried in 
a primitive way to germinate the dry seeds, but without success, hut the seeds collected and planted in 
the condition first above-mentioned grew freely, and the young plants have attained the height of fully 
3 inches in as many days after planting the seed. Once the seed becomes settled it seems to grow slowly. 
I may mention that I was on the look out for Brigalow seeds for about ten years before I finally secured 
some, and, in reply to questions, I was informed by people who had lived many years in the Brigalow 
country that they had never seen any seeds on the trees. This, of course, may have been due to want of 
careful observation. (C. J. McMaster.) 
The pods drop off as soon as they are ripe, which was in November (1906). They resemble snake 
beans in their green state, and when they ripen they open, drop the seed out, and then fall off the tree. 
(J. F. Turner, Ellerslie, Enngonia, February, 1907.) 
Bark. —This tree yields a considerable amount of tan-bark of inferior quality. 
A Queensland correspondent informs me that a sample analysed in London gave 
1T59 per cent, of tannic acid. 
