2 
Drooping and the Red Stemmed myrtle wattle herald the 
approach of Spring's-golden pageant. 
Twenty Two species of wattle; one or other 
of which is in flower throughout eleven months of the 
year, are listed for Tasmania, These wattles which 
Delong to the genus Acacia are divided into two groups 
according to the nature of the foliage; viz., (A) with 
feathery leaves,’ (B) with phyllodcs, i.e., flattened™ 
or modified leafstalks. Phyllodcs vary in shape and 
size and may be drooping, soft, .or rigid. 
Group A has four representatives in Tasmania - 
Silver (A. dealbat a) flowering August - September, 
Black (A.Decurrens )p flowering December - February, 
River (A.discolor) flowering April - July, and the 
Soft Wattle (A.mollisima). 
Group B shows two types, (l) with fiat, blunt 
leaves, and (2) 'with prickly leaves. 
In Type f important aids to identification aro 
the main leaf veins and the flower arrangement. 
Three or more veins occur in Blackwood (A.mol- 
anoxylon) and the False Boobyalla (A. sophorae), but in 
the former the flowers arc in balls. The Hook Acacia 
(A.mucronata) with no distinct mid rib hears a spine or 
hook at the tip of the narrow leaf. 
•Two veins distinguish the Varnish Wattle (A. 
vemi cif lua). 
In the Upright Acacia (A.stricta) and in the 
Sweet Wattle (a suaveoIons). bne main vein is seen, but 
in A.stricta the flowers are in single balls, whilst 
the red stems and buds, and the basal branching are 
characteristic of the Myrtle Wattle (A.myrtifolia) - 
an attractive hedge plant. 
Type 2 . Prickly Wattles are often called Minx- 
osae'a name which should not be used. Four species are 
