ACACIA (from ac, a point, in Celtic; or from akazo, to sharpen; many of the species are furnished with spines). See also AlbizziACACIA ORD. Leguminosae. Shrubs or three, very variable in habit and leaves. Flowers yellow, white, rarely red, disposed in globular heads or spikes, decandrous or polyandrous. Spines stipular, scattered, or wanting. This is a very polymorphous genus, and the majority of species described are known in this country only from herbarium specimens. It is very doubtful whether the entire genus is represented in our gardens by more than about fifty species, many of which are only to be found in botanic gardens; but this number is, without doubt, sufficiently characteristic. The number of species is close upon 400, and the genus one of the largest known. In our enumeration, we have strictly confined ourselves to describing such as are questionably in cultivation, and to this end we have adopted the only accurate method of deciding which are and which are not grown, viz., by consulting the trade lists of nurserymen, both in this country and on the Continent. Such lists, however, are not always correct, from a scientific point of view, in the matter of nomenclature. The species best deserving of cultivation are all natives of Australia, New South Wales, or other temperate regions, and are among the hardiest and most easily cultivated of all greenhouse plants. They are very floriferous. The greenhouse species are sufficiently hardy to withstand the winter in a temperature very little higher than freezing point Cultivation: Some have a tendency to make long straight shoots; these should be selected for training upon rafters or pillars, on which they thrive well and form splendid ornaments in spring; whilst the more shrubby kinds will be equally at home in pots in the form of bushes. Roots and tops grow with great rapidity, and an abundance of water is required at all times. Immediately after flowering (usually about May) is the best time to prune Acacias; they may then be placed in the open air, and fully exposed to the sun, until October. They make a far healthier, cleaner growth, and ripen their wood much better outside than under glass; all they requires is copious waterings, never allowing them to become dry, and keeping clear of weeks. In the first week in October house the plants, and winter in a temperature of 40dge. To 50dge. They delight in a light rich compost of equal parts turfy loam and leaf mould, freely intermixed with sand, or peat may be used instead of the leaf mould. Propagation: Cuttings of the half-ripened wood, put in with a heel, root readily during the summer. They do not bear heat well, nor do they require it. The soil should be equal parts peat and sand, covered with pure sand, thoroughly consolidated. Insert the cuttings as soon as made; water home, and leave them in the shade till dry. Then place the bell glasses over them, shade and water so as to prevent flagging. Pot off as soon as rooted, and keep in a close pit or house until the plants are thoroughly established. Seeds should be sown as soon as ripe, in sandy peat; about 1/4in. deep, or a little more, for large seeds. A temperature of 55deg. To 60deg. Suits them well. Pot off when large enough to handle, and place in a cool close pit or house until quite established. The culture and propagation of the stove species are the same as for the greenhouse sorts, but the former require, of course, greater heat. Their flowers, however, are much less frequently produced than their more temperate congeners, consequently they are not so much grown. ACACIA affinis.* fl. yellow. May, h. 5th. New Holland, 1822. Greenhouse species. ACACIA albicans (whitish).* fl. white; heads, two to five, aggregate, rising in racemes from the axils to the leaves. l. with eight to nine pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing nineteen to twenty-two pairs of oblong linear-leaflets. h. 5th Swan River. ACACIA amoena (pleasing). This closely resembles ACACIA heterophylla. ACACIA angustifolia (narrow-leaved). fl. yellow, in heads two to four together, pedunculate. April. l. with fifteen to twenty pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing thirty to forty pairs of linear-acute, ciliated leaflets. h. 4ft. New South Wales, 1816. One of the numerous varieties of ACACIA longifolia. ACACIA arabica (Arabian).* Gun Arabic. fl. white; heads pedunculate, axillary, usually in threes. l. with four to six pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing ten to twenty pairs of oblong-linear leaflets. h. 20ft. Arabia, East Indies, &c., 1820. Greenhouse species. ACACIA argyrophylla (silver-leaved). A synonym of ACACIA brachybotrya. ACACIA armata (armed, simple leaved).* fl. yellow, in solitary globular heads. April. l. phyllodia obliquely ovate-oblong, quite entire, one-nerved. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Australia, 1803. ACACIA Benthami (Bentham's). A synonym of ACACIA cochlearis. ACACIA brachybotrya (short-bunched).* fl. yellow, in axillary stalked globular heads. April, l. phyllodia silvery silky, obliquely obovate, or oblong. h. 8ft. Swan River. SYN. ACACIA argyrophylla ACACIA Catechu (catechu). fl. yellow; spikes cylindrical, solitary, twin, or tern, axillary. March. l. with ten pairs of pinnae, each of which bears forty to fifty pairs of linear pubescent leaflets. h. 20ft. to 40ft. East Indies, 1790. A cavenia (Cavenia).* fl. yellow, disposed in globose head, peduncles, axillary, agrregate. l. with usually about five pairs of pinnae, each of which bears nine to ten pairs of linear-oblong leaflets, clothed with scabrous pubescence. h. 20ft. Chili. Greenhouse species. ACACIA cochlearis (spoon-leaved). fl. yellow, in solitary globular heads, April. l. phyllodia linear lanceolate, many-nerved at the base, quite entire, mucronate. h. 4ft. West Australia, 1818. SYN. ACACIA Benthami. ACACIA cultriformis (knife-formed).* fl. yellow, in crowded heads, disposed in either axillary or terminal racemes. April. l phyllodia eight to ten lines long, four lines broad, cultriform, ending in a acute hooked point, which bears to one side. h. 4ft. New South Wales, 1820. ACACIA cuneata (wedge-shaped).* fl. yellow. April. Swan River, 1837. Greenhouse species. ACACIA cyanophylla (blue-leaved). fl. yellow; racemes axillary; heads globose. March. l. phyllodia lanceolate, often 1ft. long, glaucous green, almost blue; branches dropping. h. 18ft. Swan River, 1838. Arboreous. ACACIA dealbata (whitened).* The Silver Wattle. fl. yellow, in pedicellate heads, disposed in racemes along the axillary branches. July. l. from ten to twenty pairs of pinnae, each of which bears thirty to thirty-five pairs of linear, much crowded pubescent leaflets. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Australia and Tasmania, 1820. ACACIA diffusa (spreading). fl. yellow, in globular heads, which are usually twin. May. l. phyllodia linear, one-nerved, ending in an oblique acumen; branches diffusely procumbent, angular. h. 2ft. Victoria and Tasmania, 1814. ACACIA Drummondi (Drummond's).* fl. pale lemon; spikes axillary, drooping, cylindrical, simple. April. l. with two pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing two to three pairs of linear obtuse leaflets. Plant unarmed, silky. h. 10ft. Swan River. Very handsome and one of the best grown, forming a somewhat dwarf shrub. ACACIA Farnesiana (Farnesian). fl. yellow, sweet-scented, disposed in axillary, usually twin, unequally pedunculate heads. July. l. with five to eight pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing from fifteen to twenty pairs of linear glabrous leaflets. h 6ft to 10ft. St. Domingo, 1656. Greenhouse species. ACACIA glauca (milky-white).* fl. white; spikes globose, stalked, axillary, usually twin. July l. with four to six pairs of pinnae. each pinna bearing about twelve to fifteen pairs of linear, distant, acute leaflets, which are glaucous beneath. h. 5ft. to 10ft. South America, 1690. ACACIA glaucescens (greyish). fl. yellow; spikes twin, but solitary on the peduncles, axillary. June. l. phyllodia linear-lanceolate, attenuated at both ends, falcate, three-nerved. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Queensland, 1822. SYN. ACACIA homomalla. ACACIA grandis (great).* fl. yellow; heads globular; peduncles solitary or twin, axillary, one-headed. February to May. l. with one pair of pinnae, each pinna bearing eight to ten pairs of linear-lanceolate leaflets; branches hairy. h. 6ft. West Australia, 1850. A variety of ACACIA pulchella. ACACIA heterophylla (variable-leaved).* fl. yellow, in heads, disposed in a kind of raceme. May. l. phyllodia linear, attenuated at both ends, many-nerved. h. 5ft. Isle of Bourbon, 1824. ACACIA amoena is very like this. ACACIA hispidissima (hairiest). A variety of ACACIA pulchella. ACACIA holosericea (all silky). fl. yellow, in axillary spikes, usually twin. May. l 6in. long, oblong-lanceolate, ending in a soft point at the apex, three-nerved. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Australia, 1818. The whole aspect of this tree is silky. SYN. ACACIA leucophylla. ACACIA homomalla (equal-woolled). A synonym of ACACIA glaucescens. ACACIA Hugelii (Baron Hugel's). fl. pale yellow. February. West Australia, 1846. Greenhouse species. ACACIA ixiophylla (Ixia-leaved). fl. yellow; heads about twenty-flowered; peduncles downy, shortly racemose or solitary. March. l. narrow, oblong-lanceolate, sub-falcate, obtuse, obliquely mucronate, much branched. h. 2ft. New-South Wales, 1844. ACACIA juniperina (juniper-leaved). fl. yellow, in solitary heads. May. l. linear-subulate, ending in a pungent point; branches terete, pubescent. h. 6ft. Australia and Tasmania, 1790. Greenhouse. ACACIA Lebbek (Lebbek).* fl. yellow, sweet-scented; heads many-flowered, pedunculate, three or four together, from the crowded upper nodes. May. l. with two to four pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing about six to eight pairs of oval, somewhat dimidiate leaflets, which are obtuse at both ends. h. 20ft. East and West Indies, 1823. Stove species. ACACIA leprosa (leprous). fl. yellow, mostly five-parted, numerous in a globular head; peduncles mostly in pairs or clusters, 1/4in. long. May. l. narrow, linear-lanceolate, acute or obtuse with a small callous point, narrowed at base, 1 1/2in. to 3in. long, those of the barren shoots broader. Branchlets pendulous, more or less glutinous. Australia, 1817. (B. R. 1441.) ACACIA leprosa (leprous). fl. numerous in a globular head, mostly five-parted; petals yellow, united to the middle. May. l., phyllodia narrow, linear-lanceolate, acute, or obtuse with a small point, narrowed at base, 1 1/2in. to 3in. long. Branchlets pendulous, more or less glutinous. Australia, 1817. A tall shrub or small tree. (B. R. 1441.) ACACIA leucophylla (white-leaved). A synonym of ACACIA holosericea. ACACIA lineata (lined). fl. yellow, mostly five-parted, ten to fifteen or rarely more in a small, globular head; peduncles slender, rarely exceeding the leaves. April. l. linear, with a small hooked point, about 1/2in., rarely 3/4in., long, one-nerved. Branches nearly terete, usually pubescent or villous. h. 6ft. Australia, 1824. (B. M. 3346.) ACACIA lineata (lined). fl. ten to fifteen or more in a small, globular head, mostly five-parted; petals yellow, smooth. April. l., phyllodia linear, with a small, hooked point, usually 1/2in. to 3/4in. long. Branches pubescent or villous, sometimes slightly resinous. h. 6ft. Australia, 1824. (B. M. 3346.) ACACIA lineata longissima (longest). Synonymous with ACACIA longissima. ACACIA longifolia (long-leaved).* fl. yellow; spikes loose, axillary, cylindrical. March. l. phyllodia linear-lanceolate, narrowed at each end, three-nerved, striated. h. 10ft. Australia, 1792. A fine erect-growing greenhouse species. ACACIA longissima (longest-leaved). fl. yellow; spikes several, axillary, generally branched. May. l. phyllodia very long, filiform, one-nerved, spreading. h. 4ft. New South Wales, 1819. Stove species. SYN. ACACIA linearis longissima. ACACIA lunata (half-moon).* fl. yellow; heads disposed in racemes, which are longer than the phyllodiACACIA April. l. phyllodia obliquely oblong, rather falcate, narrowed at the base, terminating in an oblique callous mucrone. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Australia, 1810. Greenhouse species. SYN. ACACIA oleaefolia. ACACIA melanoxylon (black wooded). fl. yellow; heads few, disposed in a kind of raceme. April. l. phyllodia lanceolate-oblong, rather falcate, obtuse, quite entire, many-nerved. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Australia, 1818. Greenhouse species. ACACIA mollissima (softest-leaved).* fl. yellow; heads pedicellate, disposed in racemes along the axillary peduncles. July. l. with eight to eighteen pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing thirty to forty pairs of linear, much crowded, pubescent leaflets, which are clothed with yellowish velvety down when young; branches and petioles angular. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Van Diemens Land, 1810. ACACIA oleaefolia (olive-leaved). A synonym of ACACIA lunata. ACACIA oxycedrus (sharp-cedrus).* fl. yellow; spikes axillary, solitary, elongated. April. l. phyllodia scattered, or somewhat verticillate, lanceolate-linear, ending in a pungent point, three-nerved. h. 6ft. to 10ft. New South Wales, 1823. Greenhouse species. ACACIA paradoxa (paradoxical). fl. yellow, disposed in solitary heads. March. l. phyllodia obliquely oblong-lanceolate, entire, wavy, one-nerved; branches clammy, glabrous. h. 6ft. New Holland. Greenhouse species. ACACIA penninervis (feather-nerved). fl. yellow; heads about the size of a pea, racemose. April. l. phyllodia oblong, acuminated at both ends, straight, 2in. to 3in. long, 1/2in. broad, feather veined. h. 4ft. to 6ft. New Holland, 1824. ACACIA platyptera (broad-winged).* fl. yellow; heads solitary, on short peduncles. March. l. phyllodia short, bifarious, decurrent, obliquely truncate, mucronate; branches broadly winged. h. 3ft., Swan River, 1840. Greenhouse species. ACACIA pubescens (downy).* fl. yellow; heads small, globose pedicellate, disposed in racemes along the axillary peduncles. March. l. with three to ten pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing six to eighteen pairs of linear glabrous leaflets. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Branches terete, hairy. New Holland, 1790. ACACIA pulchella (pretty).* fl. yellow; heads solitary. April. l., pinnae bearing five to seven pairs of oblong-ovate, obtuse leaflets. h. 2ft. to 3ft. New Holland, 1803. Greenhouse species. The variety hispidissima has white flowers. ACACIA Riceana (Rice's).* fl. pale yellow, in long, solitary, axillary spikes. May. l. linear, in clusters, dark green, scattered or whorled. h. 20ft. TasmaniACACIA Habit graceful, like a weeping willow. Very handsome and distinct. SYN. ACACIA setigera. ACACIA rotundifolia (round-leaved). fl. yellow; heads globose, solitary, on long peduncles. March. l. phyllodia on short petioles, obliquely rounded, obtuse or retuse, mucronate. Branches angular, puberulous. h. 6ft. New Holland, 1842. ACACIA saligna (Willow-like). fl. yellow; heads solitary, on short peduncles. March. l. phyllodia linear, attennated at both ends, quite entire, almost nerveless. h. 6ft. to 10ft. New Holland, 1818. Greenhouse species. ACACIA Senegal (Senegal). Gum Senegal. fl. white, small, glabrous, distant; spikes axillary, solitary, slender. l. with five to eight pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing fifteen to eighteen pairs of oblong-linear, obtuse, glabrous leaflets; branches white; prickles sometimes wanting. h. 20ft. Arabia, 1823. Stove species. ACACIA setigera (bristly). Synonymous with ACACIA Riceana. ACACIA sophorae (Sophora-podded). fl. yellow; spikes usually twin, axillary. May. l. phyllodia obovate, oblong or lanceolate, quite entire, many nerved; sometimes there are bipinnate leaves at the tops of the branches. h. 20ft. New Holland, 1805. ACACIA sphaerocephala (round-headed).* fl. yellow; racemes axillary, usually twin, ovate-roundish. l. with numerous close-set linear falcate pinnules, which are usually tipped by a glandular yellow "food body;" spines twin, hollow. Mexico. A very remarkable stove species, inhabited by ants during certain seasons in its native country. ACACIA uncinifolia (hook-leaved). fl. yellow; spikes usually twin, dense, on short peduncles, cylindrical. March. l. phyllodia long, linear-subulate, flat, recurved, mucronate, three-nerved; branches angular. h. 6ft. Swan River, 1846. ACACIA vera (true). Egyptian Thorn; Gum Arabic. fl. white, usually in twin heads, pedunculate, axillary. July. l. with two pairs of pinnae, each pinna bearing eight to ten pairs of oblong linear leaflets; branches and spines red. h. 20ft. Egypt, 1596. ACACIA verticillata (whorl-leaved).* fl. yellow; spikes axillary, solitary, oblong. March. l. phyllodia linear, ending in a pungent mucrone, disposed somewhat verticillately. h. 6ft. to 10ft. A spreading, prickly, greenhouse species, of variable habit. New Holland, 1780. ACACIA vestita (clothed).* fl. yellow, in loosely racemose heads, along the peduncles; upper ones solitary. June. l. phyllodia obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, one-nerved, ending in an awnlike mucrone, hispid. h. 4ft. New Holland, 1820. ACACIA viscidula (clammy).* fl. yellow; heads globular, on short stalks, axillary, solitary or twin. February. l. linear, clammy; branches slender, clammy. h. 6ft., erect. New South Wales, 1844.