A coda discolor (De Candolle), the Purple-Stemmed Acacia (Mimosa discolor, 'Bot Itepository'), has no spines ; the leaves have five pairs of phone. It is a middle-sized tree, found in the southern parts of Australia and in Van Diemen's Land, where it, in common with many others of the same genus, is called Wattle. It appears better adapted than most other Australian species to support our winters. Near London it bucceed8 perfectly well, all winter long, in the open air, if wrapped round with mats, and it is to be presumed that there is no obstacle to its being almost naturalised in Devonshire and Cornwall and the west of Ireland. It is readily known by its bluish stems and leaves, which are slightly stained with dull purple, and form a strong contrast with its long erect bunches of yellow blossoms.
Acacia pubeseens (` Hortus Kewensis'), Downy Acacia. No spines. Leaves with from three to ten pairs of pinine. It is a native of the east coast of Australia. In this country it is one of the most beautiful of green-house plants. If allowed to grow freely in the border of a good conservatory, it attains the height of 10 or 12 feet ; and in January and February produces a vast abundance of yellow blossoms, which weigh down the slender graceful branches, and perfume the air with a weak but pleasant odour.
Acacia Julibrissin (Willdenow), Silk-Tassel Acacia Wilma Julibris- • sin, Scopoli). No spines. Leaves with from eight to twelve pairs of plume. It is a native of Persia and of the Levant. Its specific name is Latinised from two Persian words gul, a rose; and thruschim, silk. In the countries where it grows wild it becomes a small tree, remarkable for its light airy foliage, and for the great beauty of the clusters of lilac flowers, the long and slender stamens of which stream in the wind and glitter in the sun, like a number of silken tassels artificially fastened to the boughs. This species is now commonly cultivated in the warmer parts of Europe.
Acacia acanthoca)Ta (Willdenow), Prickly-Fruited Acacia. Spines, from the place of the stipulm, growing in pairs, and hooked. Leaves in from six to eight principal divisions. It is a native of Mexico, where it forms a small tree, with flesh-coloured flowers.
The Black Wood of Van Diemen's Land is the timber of Acacia inelano.rylon ; and the astringent Jurema Bark of Brazil is the produce of Acacia jurenta.
II. Leaves pinnated in the young plant; in the old, consisting of nothing but the vertically distended leaf-stalks, called Phyllodia. About 100
species.
Acacia decipiens ('Hortus Kewensis'), Paradoxical Acacia. Stipules spiny, deciduous. Phyllodia either triangular or trapezoidal ; their midrib nearest the lowest side, and lengthened into a spine ; a single glandular tooth on the upper edge. Flowers in nearly solitary com pound heads. This species is remarkable for the blunders to which it has given rise. When botany was only a science of names, its flowerless branches were taken for the leaves of a kind of fern ; and, at a later period, when botanical geography was as yet unheard of, it was believed to be a native of the north-west coast of North America.
It is an inhabitant of the south-west coast of Australia, where it forms a bush of singular aspect. In this country it is cultivated in the green-house, and it flowers in March, April, and May.
Acacia Sophoree Hortus Kewensis '), Fragrant Acacia. Phyllodia narrow. Heads of flowers in dense slender racemes. Pods lone.
curved, taper-pointed, a little con tracted between the seeds. It is a native of the south side of Australia and of Van Diemen's Land. In this country it is a very ornamental greenhouse plant, which, If planted in the open border, will grow as high as eight feet. Few plants are more worthy of a permanent station in a good conservatory.
Acacia lcmgifolia (Willdenow), Long-Leaved Acacia. Phyllodia of a narrow lanceolate form, tapering to each end, Spikes of flowers axillary, growing in pairs, on short stalks. It is found very commonly on the eastern coast of Australia, especially in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson, whence it was introduced into Great Britain, among the first of the natural productions of that remarkable country.
Cult ivation.—The species of this genus are increased artificially in two different ways. Most of them may be multiplied by cuttings struck in silver sand, placed under a bell-glass, and kept in a warm place, to Which no direct solar light has access. Such of them, however, as do not increase with sufficient certainty by this method, A. Julibrissin for instance, have the power of producing shoots from pieces of their root placed in earth in a hot-bed ; and by these the nurserymen generally propagate them. Their seeds also are very often received, and from these they can, of course, be multiplied in all eases.