'Australian Plants' Vol.8 No.68 September 1976 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | The text in this file has been extracted from 'Australian Plants' Vol.8 No.68 September 1976.| | | | Please note that the file was compiled from a scan of the original document. 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Morrison CASSIA ARTEMISIOIDES — A hybrid fotm, see page 341 @@@ 2 @@@ Page 338—Vol. 8 AN AUSTRALIAN PLANT GARDEN September, 1976 A WILDFLOWER GARDEN A Garden in the Country by Jack Crowley, Echuca, Victoria | have grown Cassia quite successfully in my garden together with many other wildflowers. My soil is poor. It cracks badly in summer, showing that it is quite heavy. It is grey and shallow, not more than 8 cm deep. | do not build up garden beds for better drainage and depth of soil. Some sections of the garden are higher and better drained than others and | am growing the Cassia there. When planting | dig a hole about 40 cm square to the depth of the container and fill with local soil improved by composting. | do not cultivate or fertilise. During summer | surround young plants with a mulch of dry grass or bark and wood chips. | planted “Silver Cassia” (Cassia artemisioides) and ‘“Desert Cassia’ (C. nemophila, previously known as C. eremophila) in September 1963. | watered sparingly in the first summer but as they took the very wet winter of 1964 in their stride, they were watered more frequently the following summer, even weekly in the hottest times. | added a Cassia sturtii as | was so pleased with the show that they made. These plants lived and flourished for 10 years. They were never pruned and | found that an occasional watering during summer was all they needed. “Silver Cassia” and ‘“Desert Casia” reached a height of 5 feet and Cassia sturtii of 4 feet, all well-shaped bushes. Having only a small area and being more interested in larger shrubs and trees | did not replant but three C. nemophila and a C. sturtii, which regenerated in rather cramped conditions and partial shade, grew almost as well, surviving the abnormal rainfall of the last three years; 30 inches per year compared to the average of 17. Other plants that | have found to be well suited to local conditions are: Eucalyptus steedmanii, E. stoatei, E. viridis, E. spathulata and E. maculata, all of which have been well described in previous issues of Australian Plants for those who want to know more about them. The ‘“‘Coolgardie Gum”, E. torquata, grew to 8 feet in three years but is a doubtful performer here. | think it would be better suited further inland. Melaleuca armillaris, M. elliptica, M. styphelioides, M. nesophila, M. decussata, M. pulchella and M. linariifolia. M. linariifolia seems to need a low spot and to be well watered for the first summer. The soil and hot summers do not suit M. incana. Grevillea rosmarinifolia, Callistemon speciosus, C. phoeniceus, Kennedia nigricans, K. rubicunda, ‘‘Sweet-Scented Hakea” (H. suaveolens) a first- class performer, and a wild hop Dodonaea adenophora. Hakea suaveolens has proved to be an excellent hedge that will stand any amount of pruning. Nearby is a small natural stand of trees to 10 metres in height, hard and with rather rough brown bark, bluish-green leaves and long thin branches drooping almost to ground-level. The bigger trees are rather spreading. This is | believe Acacia homalophylla and | consider deserves to be much better known. They have a real atmosphere of the inland. They should be an ideal tree for park and roadside planting. Due largely to an interest aroused by Australian Plants, | now have a really worthwhile garden. The nurserymen of this State have really got with it as native plants are now easy to obtain. CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE This issue provides a reference to the plant family Caesalpiniaceae, see pages 361, 365 and 374, and in particular the genus Cassia as indexed on page 346. @@@ 3 @@@ September, 1976 * AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 339—Vol. 8 . CASSIA Reports by the Editor and Other Readers Cassia are indeed beautiful hardy shrubs for the garden. There are species suitable for cultivation in gardens of all soil types and climatic conditions. They become attractive shrubs when not in flower and often flower well in winter before other wildflowers in your garden have reached their full majesty. Some species have proved very hardy under vigorous conditions. Cassia may also be readily grown from seed. They have a hard seed coat similar to Acacia (wattles) and may be treated the same way—place seed in a cup, pour in boiling water, soak for five days, then plant in a clean coarse sand. Why then were reports on cultivation of Cassia so difficult to obtain? i feel the reasons were (they are set out here as a guide to the problems you will meet in the cultivation of Cassia):— (a) Those who have grown Cassia successfully have done it so easily, without special attention, that they feel there is nothing to report. (b) Cassia are at their best up to 3-4 years old, when some tend to become sparse and straggly. A programme of replacement every four years has not been adhered to and these beautiful garden shrubs have been forgotten. You will see in a report later that pruning after flowering will keep the shrubs nicely shaped and healthy for 10 years, with some fertilizing. (c) The few species most readily available have been so successful, and are so showy, that other species have been neglected. There are many more worthy of a trial. The reverse to this has also caused a neglect of Cassia as follows: (d) There are Cassia to be found in most warm parts of Australia, but attempts to grow species not adapted to the local climate has often discouraged gardeners. It is unfortunate that the tendency by many growers to try to cultivate the “rare” species and neglect the proven floriferous shrubs has encouraged the incorrect statement, ‘“‘wild- flowers are difficult to grow in the garden”. It does not matter where you live (excepting possibly in cold areas), there are many species of Cassia that will make ideal garden subjects. (e) Plants and seeds are difficult to obtain. Oh! How many nurserymen will despair of this statement about such plants as Cassia. Many Cassia plants have been thrown out because nobody has bought them. Your wildflower nurseryman always has a good stock of plants that will grow in your garden conditions. When you go seeking the more unusual species ask about his more reliable plants and pay heed to his advice. If he is not stocking Cassia it is because nobody wanted them. Why not? They grow readily, look good when not in flower and cover themselves in brilliant yellow to orange when in flower. Let Us Study Them: Nevertheless it is true that plants and seeds are hard to get, at least outside the major cities, and these plants are ideal for the country grower. There is a need for the proper recording of data on all of these lovely plants so that they may be more readily grown. There is also a need for the collection, storing and distribution of seed, especially as it may be grown so easily without special facilities. This is the function of a ‘“study group for Cassia”’—a number of readers from all parts of Australia who communicate by correspondence and exchange advice, seed and encouragement. No prior experience is needed, so why not join? Address your enquiries to the Editor. @@@ 4 @@@ Page 340—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Cassia Forms—Natural Hybrids, Crosses: The first thing to make a study of Cassia difficult is the naming. More of this later. There has been a great deal of natural hybridization in the wild that has for years confused even the botanists. Take, for instance, what is broadly called “Sturts Cassia” below. In an attempt to define the plants for our convenience Barbara Randell, in an outstanding article from page 345, has given the following names:— Photography by O. Hockings CASSIA hybrid sturtii—''Sturts Cassia’’ This name covers a wlde range of morphologlcal forms. The form above has been glven the name shown—Cassia hybrid sturtil. The leaflets may be narrow to broadly elliptical as shown above, densely hairy and in 4-6 palrs on a leaf ‘‘stem’. Other forms as described on page 357 are:— Glabrous (leaves without hairs) plants with leaflets In 1-2 pairs—Cassia hybrid zygophylla. Glabrous or wlith leaflets slightly halry and In 2-5 palrs—Cassia hybrid corlacea. These three names cover most of the morphological forms resulting from hybridization of Cassia ‘“‘nemophila’’ or Cassia artemisioides (narrow leaflets) and Cassia oligophylla, C. helmsii or C. “‘coriacea’’ (broad leaflets). i @@@ 5 @@@ September, 1976 * AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 341—Vol. 8 Cassia for the Garden: Do not be confused by the large number of species. See reports on the next page of proven hardy species such as pictured here. Photography by F. W. Humphreys CASSIA ARTEMISIOIDES Gaudich. ex DC. For a caption to above, and that on the front cover, see over page. @@@ 6 @@@ Page 342—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 CASSIA FOR YOUR GARDEN The following reports will indicate the plants already proven in cultivation as being reliable and rewarding. We are concerned that the provision of so much detail and the description of so many species such as in this issue may deter the beginner. Do not be put off by the use of the scientific botanical names either. A Cassia is a Cassia, even if the first part of the scientific name is Cassia. You can refer to them as “Sturts Cassia” (see page 340 for colour plate), “Silver Cassia”, Cassia artemisioides (see page 341 and the cover for colour plates), or “Desert Cassia”, Cassia nemophila (pictured in colour on page 289 of our No. 58 issue). You will eventually get to know them by their scientific names when they grace your garden with a blaze of colour. A scientific name that will save confusion would be Cassia odorata, previously known as Cassia australis. The plants mentioned above are floriferous, reliable shrubs for your garden as confirmed by the folowing reports, but first let us consider more carefully the most magnificent of all. CASSIA ARTEMISIOIDES—THE SILVER CASSIA The colour plate on page 341 is a good example of the true species. The leaflets are many (about 6) pairs, grey and hairy, almost terete. Hybrids derived from this parent have fewer hairs and wider leaflets, though these may be inrolled. Cassia hybrid artemisioides, as shown on the front cover, has leaflets that are linear but inrolled, with fewer hairs than the parental form. Often there are fewer pairs of leaflets. If there are only 1-2 pairs it becomes Cassia hybrid nemophila. The flowers shown on the front cover have five equal petals, 10 equal stamens and a typical legume pod. REPORTS ON CULTIVATION from Victoria From Jack Crowley, Echuca, Victoria— A report on Cassia artemisioides, C. nemophila (previously C. eremo- phila) and C. sturtii, all of which flourished over a 10-year period. See “A Wild Flower Garden,” page No. 338. From C. L. Wheeler— “Wildflowers for Clay Areas,” page 199, Vol. 5. The same plants are recommended for the heavy soil areas of Melbourne. We know they will also grow in light soils Report from A.C.T.—Canberra Botanic Gardens: Species successfully grown include Cassia aciphylla (five plants estab- lished although not without difficulty), C. artemisioides (two from seed from Broken Hill and six from seed from the Flinders Ranges, S.A.), C. nemophila var. zygophylla (a plant from Dubbo, N.S.W. was established after six attempts) and C. odorata. Frost is the main cause of death. Not successful after plantings were Cassia alata, C. bicapsularis, C. brewsteri, C. circinata, C. desolata, C. didymobotrya, C. nemophila, C. notabilis, C. oligophylla, C. pleurocarpa, C. sturtii and C. tomentella. For home garden situations in Canberra we recommend for trial Cassia aciphylla, C. artemisioides, C. nemophila, C. nemophila var. zygophylla, C. sturtii and, highly recommended as a ground cover, Cassia odorata. Report from Queensland: From Central Queensland—G. Foster— This report, on page 114 of Issue 23, Vol. 3, will be of considerable interest to people living in the drier inland or wheat-belt areas. The species reported on are Cassia artemisioides, C. costata, C. retusa, C. sturtii, C. brewsteri, C. laevigata and C. pleurocarpa. From North Queensland—Coastal Areas— Page 132, Issue No. 63, reports on C. artemisioides and C. sturtii for Townsville. ” @@@ 7 @@@ September, 1976 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 343—Vol. 8 This issue has a report of northern Cassia in ‘“North Queensland Caesalpiniaceae”. : Reports on Cultivation from New South Wales: From B. Whitehead, Forbes, N.S.W.— Cassia artemisioides flowered in its first year and has improved each year in density of flowers. Flowering begins sparsely in winter and reaches its climax in early spring, when the shrub is a mass of bloom. A heavy crop of seed pods follows and during summer the plant does not flower again. The silvery foliage is reasonably attractive. Care must be taken to ensure that Crusader Bugs, which are fond of Cassias, do not destroy all new growth. These pests are at their worst about mid-summer. The plant is resistant to dryness and would be suitable for gardens in western areas of N.S.W. Cassia sturtii. This very dense upright shrub bears a heavy crop of deep golden vyellow flowers in spring. Flowering is so impressive and extensive that the foliage is rendered insignificant at flowering time. Flowers on specimens here were maintained without dimunition for a period of about three weeks, making the shrub well worthwhile. In the conditions under which the shrubs are growing, growth is slow in comparison to other natives with which it is associated. See colour plate on page 340. Cassia nemophila. Along roadsides here, and on undisturbed hillsides, this shrub may be found growing naturally. Flowers are borne along the branches in spring in delicate clusters. The shrub in flower has a more delicate appearance than those mentioned previously and the green foliage is more obvious. Plants have been seen growing to a height of 5-6 ft, still attractive in appearance and showing none of the heavily wooded branches which can occur on some neglected specimens of native plants. All specimens mentioned receive accidental watering during summer with watering of the lawn, but periods of extreme heat and dryness appear to have little effect. The plants are quite unaffected by frosts in winter, which rarely go below 26°F. Little care is required, the only attention given being the removal of the previously mentioned Crusader Bugs and an occasional trimming or pruning of untidy growth which may occur. From the Editor, Picnic Point, N.S.W.— Plants of Cassia artemisioides, C. nemophila and C. sturtii have also been successful in many gardens in Sydney. | have found a low-growing form of Cassia aciphylla a most attractive ground cover spreading to 1 m diameter but keeping low on the ground. Cassia artemisioides has been used to advantage in landscaping, its silvery leaves always looking attractive and good flowering is assured. It can withstand very rigorous dry situations and the neglect that is a feature of much commercial landscaping. From G. Sinclair, Deniliquin, N.S.W.— | have grown Cassia artemisioides, G. nemophila and C. australis. My ground is heavy clay here on the river, as it was when | lived on the land. They flower beautifully. The ground under my plants becomes thick with seed pods. In warm weather | flood around the plants and in no time seedlings appear. | plant them into pots for friends or put them in another part of the garden where they grow well. Under each little plant | always put a teaspoon of superphosphate and a little bone meal. They are so bright in winter. | do not dig around the plants, but put sand and sometimes a little blood and bone and leaf mould under them. It is a good idea to trim the plants all over when the flowers fade—it keeps a good shape. Report from Northern Territory: See the report in this issue and our book “North Australian Plants”. Report from South Australia: See the report in this issue on page 378. @@@ 8 @@@ Page 344—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Photography by O. Hockings Cassia oligophylla—Section Psilorhegma A specles with few palrs of glabrous leaflets. The plants shown are typlcal, with 2-3 palrs of leaflets wldest at the top, and often notched. Plants may be green, or grey without halrs. Hybrlds with C. helmsii or C. artemisioides may be halry. This Is one of 11 specles recom- mended for gardens In W.A. In “Plants for Gardens In Warmer Districts”, page 115, Vol. 3. Cassia leptoclada, though simllar, has narrower leaflets, fewer flowers, a more slender hablt and Is often purplish In colour. @@@ 9 @@@ September, 1976 .. AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 345—Vol. 8 THE SPECIES OF CASSI/IA IN AUSTRALIA by Dr. B. R. Randell and Mr. D. E. Symon The species of Cassia known to occur in Australia were completely revised by D. E. Symon in 1966. This is the revision which has been followed in the major part of this paper. More recent work (Randell 1970) on one Section—Psilorhegma—showed that the taxonomic treatment of this group is in need of further revision. However, this has not yet been done. The names at present given to species in this group are therefore not in their final form. However, we have endeavoured to put forward names which will be useful, until the final names are produced. The authors would like to ask for the indulgence of professional taxonomists for this popular treatment. We are well aware of the nomenclatural and biological problems in this genus. Photography by F. W. Humphreys CASSIA HELMSII Symon The leaflets are obovate, often wlith recurved edges as shown above, are very halry, grey In colour and In 3 to 5 palrs on a ‘stalk’”. Hybrlds from this parent often have elliptic and narrower leaflets with fewer halrs and the plants appear greener In colour. @@@ 10 @@@ Page 346—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Hybridization: The factor causing most taxonomic confusion must be the frequency of interspecific hybridization within the subgenus Psilorhegma. This has led to the proliferation of morphological forms, some of which have been given specific rank. In the opinion of the present authors, these do not warrant specific recognition, but shculd be grouped into loose hybrid aggregates. The index lists all valid botanical names and indicates those which we believe to be of hybrid origin. Consequently these taxa will not be defined in this article. Plants previously assigned to them will be treated by referring them- to one of the hybrid standards. To illustrate the complexity of the problem of correctly identifying plants that tend to hybridise take the possibilities with one cross, e.g. Cassia ‘““nemophila” x C. helmsii. This can produce plants with:— 1. Narrow glabrous leaflets—Cassia hybrid nemophila. Narrow hairy leaflets—Cassia hybrid artemisioides. Intermediate glabrous leaflets—Cassia hybrid zygophylla. Intermediate hairy leaflets—Cassia hybrid sturtii. Intermediate intermediate leaflets—Cassia hybrid coriacea. Wide glabrous leaflets—Cassia oligophylla? . Wide hairy leaflets—Cassia helmsii? Further intergrading between these is also possible. These are not species; they are just convenient labels we give to certain plants so that other people will have some idea what we are talking about. INDEX TO CASSIA SPECIES To simplify reference an index follows of all species in this article (first column of page references) and of references in this issue by other authors (last column included by the editor with the understanding permission of the authors). It also contains several widely used synonyms. The hybrid forms and possible new combinations are also listed and identified as follows:— t Species name not mentioned in this article. @ Hybrid standards. “ " New combinations. NouseN Page Page Cassia absus L. 353 366, 374 C. aciphylla Benth. 356 342 C. alata L. 358 366 C. artemisioides Gaudich. ex DC. 355 342 aC. C. hybrid artemisioides 357 378 1C. australis Sims syn. C. odorata 342 C. barclayana Sweet 357 iC. bicapsularis L. syn. C. colutioides 342 C. brewsteri F. Muell. 353 342, 374 1C. cardiosperma F. Muell. (hybrid see C. hybrid coriacea) {C. charlesiana Symon (hybrid see C. hybrid nemophila) C. chatelainiana Gaudich. 356 343 C. circinnata Benth. 355 342 C. colutioides Colla. 358 C: “coriacea” (C. nemophila var. coriacea) 355 aC. C. hybrid coriacea . 357 C. coronilloides Benth. 356 C. costata J. F. Bailey & C. T. White 356 366, 343 iC. cuthbertsonii F. Muell. (hybrid see C. helmsii) 1C. desolata F. Muell. (hybrid see C. hybrid sturtii) 342, 378 C. didymobotrya Fres. 358 342 1C. eremophila Benth. syn. C. nemophila C. ferraria Symon 356 C. fistula L. . 353 @@@ 11 @@@ September, 1976 +H+ Q 3 [~} 000000000 0000000000 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 347—Vol. 8 0000000 floribunda Cav. glauca Lam. syn. C. surattensis glutinosa DC. hammersleyensis Symon harneyi R. L. Specht helmsii Symon hirsuta L. involucrata laevigata Willd. syn. C. floribunda laxiflora Benth. syn. C. timoriensis leptoclada Benth. Page 358 355 356 353 356 357 355 luerssenii Domin (hybrid see C. pruinosa & C. glutinosa) magnifolia F. Muell. manicula Symon 3 marksiana (F. M. Bailey) Domin mimosioides L. nemophila var. nemophila Cunn. ex Vogel see C. “nemophila” nemophila var. platypoda (R. Br.) Benth. see C. “platypoda” nemophila var. coriacea (Benth.) Symon see C. ‘“coriacea” nemophila var. zygophylla (Benth.) Benth. see C. “zygophylla” “nemophila” (C. nemophila var. nemophila) C. hybrid nemophila neurophylla W. V. Fitz. syn. C. oligolada notabilis F. Muell. obtusifolia L. occidentalis L. odorata Morris oligoclada F. Muell. oligophylla F. Muell. phyllodinea R. Br. pilocarina Symon planitiicola Domin “platypoda” (C. nemophila var. platypoda) hybrid platypoda pleurocarpa F. Muell. pruinosa F. Muell. pumila Lam. queenslandica C. T. White retusa Vogel revoluta F. Muell. syn. C. aciphylla sophera L. syn. C. barclayana sturtii R. Br. (hybrid see C. hybrid sturtii) C. hybrid sturtii surattensis Burm. f. timoriensis DC. tomentella (Benth.) Domin tomentosa L. f. tora L. venusta F. Muell. “zygophylla A” (C. nemophila var. zygophylla) “zygophylla B” (C. nemophila var. zygophylla) C. hybrid zygophylla Page 367, 367, 343, 343, 368, 368, 374, 342, 368, 368, 342 377 366 378 343 366 343 374 374 378 378 379 @@@ 12 @@@ Page 348—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Photography by J. Glass Cassia chatelainiana—Section Psilorhegma One of a group of glabrous specles having many (4-10) pairs of leaflets. The stalked leaf glands do not appear on thls photograph (see Flg. 2 on page 351) but are the most easlly recognised character. Specles with simllar leaves are C. costata which, however, has distinc- tive curved orange pods contalning shiny black seeds; and C. glurlnosa shown In colour on -page 377, which has sticky leaves. @@@ 13 @@@ September, i AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Photography by O. Hocklngs Cassia pilocarina—Section Psilorhegma A typlcal example of the specles. Shrubs are low and twlggy, and flowers are often less numerous than shown. C. pilocarina has the smallest leaflets among the halry specles of the Psilorhegmae, though among the glabrous specles C. ‘‘coriacea’ has rather simllar leaf structure. However, C. “‘coriacea” |Is a small tree. @@@ 14 @@@ Page 350—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Cultivation of Cassias Plants are usually grown from seed, which is often long-lived. Seeds 80 years old have been germinated. Seeds may be “hard” and require scarification to assist water absorption. All species prefer warm to tropical conditions and grow best in well-drained situations. None tolerate cold, wet, soggy soils, though species from the inland will stand frosts. Species native to the southern temperate Australia are tolerant of alkaline soils (the nemophila group in the broad sense). Most species prefer open sunny sites and become leggy and drawn under shade. Many species are sweetly scented. Multiple Seedlings: In the subgenus Psilorhegma, many species are known to produce more than one seedling from many of their seeds. Most of these seedlings are produced asexually and are thus identical with the plant carrying the seedpod. Occasionally, however, a seedling can be produced after sexual reproduction and thus hybridization is possible. Although seven or even eight embryos have been found in the developing seed, rarely more than two actually germinate. Only the strongest will survive without special attention. As most seedlings are asexual, the progeny of one seed is usually identical. A non-identical pair of seedlings (one asexual, one sexual hybrid) has been reported once. Morphology of the Genus Cassia Figure 1 — Floral Morphology and Fruit Morphology The flowers are yellow or orange, with five equal separate petals. There are 10 stamens, sometimes all functional, but often with three, four or five sterile and much smaller. Somtimes 2 or 3 basal anthers are on elongated stalks (a and b). Flowers occur in racemes of 2-3 to 50-60 flowers. Cassia fruits are pods of three basic types— 1. Cylindrical, indehiscent (d). The seeds are not shed until the fruit rots. 2. Flattened, elastically dehiscent. Pods open violently and fling seeds out. 3. Flattened, dehiscent but not elastically (e). These pods open gradually and the seeds can be seen hanging inside. Figure 2 — Leaf Morphology. The leaves are pinnately divided, without a terminal leaflet. The number of leaflets varies between 1 and 80 pairs. Stipules are present but usually fall early (a). Leaflets in several species are deciduous, leaving a functional phyllode (c, d). In two species this has been vertically flattened (b, d). Small black glands occur at the base of the petiole (g), or along the midrib. They are usually sessile (b, d) or rarely stalked (f). THE GENUS CASSIA AND ITS SUBGENERA The genus Cassia in Australia is divided into 3 subgenera. Subgenus Absus A. Section Absus 1 species in Australia B. Section Apoucouita None in Australia C. Section Chamaecrista 3 species in Australia Subgenus Cassia 5 species, 1 introduced to Australia Subgenus Senna A. Section Senna 7 species, 2 introduced B. Section Chamaefistula 3 species, all introduced C. Section Oncolobium 4 species, 2 introduced D. Section Prososperma 2 species, both introduced E. Section Psilorhegma About 30 species, 1 outside Australia Simplified key to the Subgenera . Foliar glands present along leaf midrib 3. . Foliar glands absent along leaf midrib 2. RN 2. Pod indehiscent, 20-60 cms long Subgenus Cassia 2. Pod dehiscent, to 15 cms long Subgenus Senna Pod dehiscent, to 15 cms long Subgenus Senna £ Ko Pod elastically dehiscent, to 4 cms long Subgenus Absus @@@ 15 @@@ September, 1976 i AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 351—Vol. 8 CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOWERS, PODS AND LEAVES These characteristics are used to identify plants in the general text and in the key to the species on page 359. FIGURE 1.—FLORAL MORPHOLOGY a. 6 fertlle stamens, e.g. C. barclayana; b. 7 fertlle stamens, e.g. C. notabills; c. 10 fertlle stamens, e.g. C. artemisioides; d. Cylindrical pod, e.g. C. fistula; e. Flat pod, e.g. C. artemisioides. s—sterlle anther; o—ovary; s.v.—separatlng valves. FIGURE 2.—LEAF MORPHOLOGY a. C. pruinosa, persistent stlpules; b. C. ‘platypoda’, vertical phyllode, aplcal gland; c. C. circinnata, terete phyllode, declduous leaflets; d. C. phyllodinea, vertical phyllode, lateral gland; e. C. planitiicola, large gland at the base of petiole; f. C. costata, stalked glands between leafiets. g—aoland; s—stlpule; d.l.—declduous leaflet @@@ 16 @@@ Page 352—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1 THE GENUS CASSIA AND ITS SPECIES The species of Cassia are now briefly described in groups. Photography by O. Hockings Cassia pleurocarpa—Subgenus Senna Identlfication of varleties Is difficult from the photographs but probably the upper Is C. pleurocarpa var. angustifolia. The lower Is C. pleurocarpa var. pleurocarpa var. angustifolia and has more leaflets than the type varlety, and Is restricted to Western Australla. The third varlety, C. pleurocarpa var. longifolia, s restricted to Queensland and“has more leaflets than the other varletles, falling between them In leaflet width. The photographs do not show fertile anthers (7) or the longitudinal stripe along each pod. @@@ 17 @@@ September, 1976 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 353—Vol. 8 (a) Subgenus Absus A group of small shrubs with small pods from tropical Northern Territory, tropical Queensland, and on coastal areas as far south as Sydney. This group of species is essentially tropical. Few if any are in cultivation. They are not particularly showy and none is especially recommended. Notes to the Species in the Subgenus Absus C. absus. Shrub to 50 cms, viscid; leaflets 2 pairs, 1-2.5 x 0.8-1.5 cms. Fertile stamens 5. Northern W.A., N.T., Qid. C. harneyi. Perennial herb to 1 m. Leaves 5-9 cms; leaflets 5-15 pairs, 1.6-2.4 x 0.4-0.5 cms. Fertile stamens 8-10. Bickerton Is., Gulf of Carpentaria. C. pumila. Shrub to 40cms. Leaves 0.8-1 cms; leaflets 10-15 pairs, 0.4-0.7 x 0.1 cms. Fertile stamens 5. North W.A., N.T., Qld. C. mimosioides. Shrub to 1 m. Leaves 3-8 cms; leaflets 20-80 pairs, 0.3-0.5 x 0.05-0.1 cms. Fertile stamens 10 or fewer. North W.A., N.T., Qld. and south coastal Qld., northern N.S.W. (b) Subgenus Cassia A group of trees having large indehiscent pods, from coastal areas of Qld. and northern N.S.W. This group of species is well worth growing and should be more exten- sively tried in gardens. C. brewsteri will grow as far south as Adelaide. Seeds are long lasting and locating supplies of the lesser-known and rarer species like C. queenslandica would be worthwhile. The long racemes of flowers may be yellow or yellow with reddish markings and may be orchid-like in appearance. Notes to the Species in the Subgenus Cassia C. fistula. Deciduous tree 3-10 m. Leaflets 3-8 pairs, 5-15 x 3.5-8 cms. Inflores- cence 20-40 cms long, bearing 30-50 flowers. Pods 30-60 x 2-2.5 cms, cylindrical. Native to Asia, established in north Qld. Widely grown as an orna- mental in tropical Australia. C. queenslandica. Tall shrub or tree, hairy, somewhat ribbed. Leaves to 18 cms; leaflets 6-8 pairs, 4-7 x 2-2.,5 cms. Inflorescence 25-35 cms long bearing 50-60 flowers. Pod to 35 x 1-1.5 cms, somewhat flattened and ribbed. A tall tree from the rainforest near Cairns, Qld. C. brewsteri. Shrub or tree 2-12 m, sparcely hairy but becoming glabrous with age. Leaflets 2-4(6) pairs, to 4.5 x 1.5 cms. Inflorescence 7-20 cms long, bearing 6-12 flowers. Pod 20-45 x 1-2.5 cms, somewhat compressed, transverse ribs between seeds more or less distinct. Central coastal Qld., Cairns to Maryborough. Grown as an ornamental. C. marksiana. Erect tree to 20m, glabrous. Leaves 20-23 cms; leaflets 7-8 pairs, 2.5-8.5 cms long. Inflorescence 7-8 cms long. Pod 30 x 1-1.5 cms, nearly cylindrical, transverse ribs not distinct. Coastal Qld./N.S.W. border areas. C. tomentella. Shrub or tree to 10 m, young parts densely hairy with pale curved hairs. Leaves to 10 cms; leaflets 4-5 pairs, 1-6 x 1-2 cms. Inflorescence 7-18 cms long. Pod 15-30 x 1-1.5 cms, cylindrical, trans- verse ribs not prominent. Subtropical southeast Qld. () (1) Subgenus Senna Section Psilorhegma. A group of about 30 species mostly from inland areas of Australia, though some occur on the central coast of N.SW. They have large, flattish dehiscent pods, and 10 fertile stamens. @@@ 18 @@@ Page 354—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Taxonomically, the Section Psilorhegma is very difficult. The species are fairly easy to recognise in a key, but in the field it becomes obvious that boundaries between many of the species are obscured by numerous and frequent hybrids, with (asexually) fertile seeds (see Randell 1970). Not only do these hybrids intergrade between the parental species, they are so frequent and variable that, although it is necessary to give them some type of names for practical use, we have not yet been able to devise a system which adequately covers the situation. The problems are these: (1) The parental species were recognised from chromosome counts. Hybrids show almost continuous morphological variation between these parental forms. (2) Hybrids between species A and B may mimic species C, e.g., hybrids between C. helmsii and C. “nemophila” . . . (C. hybrid zygophylla) . . . are sometimes impossible to distinguish from C. “zygophylla A”. (3) Hybrids between several different parental crosses are morphologi- cally almost indistinguishable, e.g., C. hybrid sturtii . . . can be derived from C. helmsit x C. “nemophila” C. helmsii x C. artemisioides C. oligophylla x C. “nemophila” C. oligophylla x C. artemisioides. (4) Previous workers have described and named forms which are now shown to be of hybrid origin. Then if taxonomic rules are followed, new descriptions and names are needed for many species, although currently accepted descriptions often coincide fairly closely with the parental species. In this treatment, the names applied by Symon (1966) are used for the parental species recognised by Randell (1970), though in some cases new combinations are obviously necessary, and are indicated by quotation marks. The majority of the species and forms in this Section occur in the dryer regions of Australia but do extend from NE Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria and from Sydney to Broome. Amongst them are many fine garden plants especially for inland areas. Many species have not been grown in gardens and there is wide scope for selection of cultivars in the bewildering array of variation available. All have yellow flowers. Some features of the group include: glaucous white leaflets C. pruinosa silvery hoary leaflets C. helmsii, C. hybrid sturtii, C. phyllodinea sticky glutinous tips C. glutinosa curved orange pods C. costata low spreading habit C. pilocarina, C. hammersleyensis, C. aciphylla tolerant of winter rainfall C. “nemophila”, C. “coriacea”, C. “platypoda” small trees . retusa, C. surattensis, C. chatelainiana. Notes to the Species in the Subgenus Senna (9] (a) Leaves almost completely reduced to phyllodes. Leaflets fall early. C. phyllodinea. Shrub 0.2-2.2 m, grey and hoary. Leaves almost completely reduced to vertically flattened phyllodes, 1.5-5 cms x 0.5 cms, often falcate. Leaflets when present 1-2 pairs, also phyllodinaceous, gland between lowest pair of leaflets (¥4 to 32 along upper edge of phyllode). Pod 3-8 x 1.5 cms, coiled to a semi-circle. North-western plains of N.S.W. and Lake Eyre Basin. C. "“platypoda” (C. nemophila var. platypoda pp. of D. E. Symon). Shrub 1-3 m, green and glabrous. Petioles phyllodinaceous, vertically flattened, 2-5 x 0.4-0.6 cms. Leaflets 1-2 pairs, vertically flattened, sometimes falling early, 1-2 x 0.2 cms. Gland terminal. Pod straight. Gawler Ranges, S.A., McDonnell Ranges, N.T. @@@ 19 @@@ September, 1976 § A;JSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 355—Vol. 8 C. circinnata. Shrub 1-2 m. Leaves completely reduced to phyllodes, almost terete, 1.5-5 x 0.1 cms. Leaflets when present 1-3 pairs, terete, 0.6 x 0.1 cms, falling early. Pod 1 cms broad, spiral, forming 1-2 coils. North-western plains of N.S.W. (b) Leaves almost completely terete. C. “nemophila” (C. nemophila var. nemophila pp. of D. E. Symon). Shrub 1-3 m. Leaves 4-8 cms; leaflets 1-2 pairs, terete, 4-6 cms long, glabrous, usually green sometimes grey. Pod flat and straight, 2-8 x 0.7-0.9 cms. Flinders Ranges, S.A.; McDonnell Ranges, N.T. C. artemisioides. Shrub 1-2 m. Leaves 3-6 cms; slightly or densely hairy, grey. Leaflets 4-8 pairs, 1-4 cms, terete. Pod flat and straight, 4-8 x 0.6-1 cms. Flinders Ranges, S.A.; McDonnell Ranges, N.T. Colour, page 341. C. manicula. Shrub 0.5-1 m, with short dense foliage, densely hairy, grey. Leaves about 1 cm, leaflets 3-4 pairs, 5-10 x 0.5-0.756 mm, channelled above. 5 Rare, near Leonora, W.A. (c) Leaves with specialised indumentum. C. glutinosa. Shrub 1-3 m. Young stems, petioles, peduncles, and pods very viscid or sticky. Leaves 2-5 cms; leaflets 3-4(6) pairs, 1.2-3 x 0.3-0.5 cms, viscid on the edges. Pods flat shining, viscid, 4-6 x 0.8-1 cms. Central N.T.; Hamersley region, W.A. Colour plate on page 377. C. pruinosa. Shrub 1.5-2 m. Young stems, petioles, and peduncles pruinose (with -a white powdery covering), older parts grey. Leaves 5-10 cms; leaflets 3-7 pairs, 1-2 cms x 3-6 mm. Stipules 3-9 x 1-5 mm, falcate, persistent. Pod flat 3-6 x 1 cms. Central N.T.; Western Qld.; Hamersley region, W.A. (d) Leaflets glabrous, green or glaucous. Leaflets 1-3 pairs. C. “zygophylla A” (C. nemophila var. zygophylla pp. of D. E. Symon). Small shrub 1.5 m, green and glabrous. Leaves 4-6 cms; leaflets 2-3 pairs, 3-4 x 0.3-0.5 cmes, linear elliptic. Pod straight. Flinders Ranges, S.A.; McDonnell Ranges, N.T.; north-west of W.A. C. “zygophylla B” (C. nemophila var. zygophylla pp. of D. E. Symon). Small shrub 1.5 m, glabrous and glaucous, rusty red. Leaves 4-6 cms; leaflets 2-3 pairs, 3-4 x 0.5-0.8 cms. Rare, near Alice Springs, N.T. C. oligophylla. Shrub 1-2 m, glabrous, usually green, rarely grey and glaucous. Leaflets 1-2 pairs, 1-3 x 1-2 cms. Inflorescence 6-20 flowers. Western QId.; N.T.; north-east and Pilbara of W.A. Colour, page 344. C. leptoclada. Shrub 1.5 m, glabrous and very glaucous, purplish. Leaflets 2 pairs, 1.3-3 x 0.7-1.5 cms. Inflorescence 2-3 flowers. Rare, Gulf of Carpentaria Region, N.T. (e) Leaflets glabrous, green or glaucous. Leaflets 4-10 pairs. C. “coriacea” (C. nemophila var. coriacea pp. of D. E. Symon). Shrub or small tree 1.5-2 m, glabrous, glaucous and grey. Leaves 0.5-1.2 cms; leaflets 7-10 pairs, 3-5 mm x 1-2 mm. Leaf midrib recurved. Rare, Gawler Ranges and Flinders Ranges, S.A. C. ferraria. Shrub. Leaves 6-8 cms; leaflets 4 pairs, 3-4 x 1-1.5 cms elliptic. Gland not stalked. Pod not seen. Rare, in Hamersley Ranges, W.A. C. chatelainiana. Shrub 1-4 m, slightly hairy, becoming glabrous. Leaves 4-6 cms; leaflets 3-4 pairs, 1.5-4 x 0.1-0.25 cms. Glands several on prominent stalks 1-4 mm. Pod flat and straight. See page 348 for colour plate. Pilbara Region, W.A. C. costata. Shrub 1-2 m. Leaves 4-6 cms, glabrous and green; leaflets 4-6 pairs, 2-4 x 0.4-0.6 cms. Pod 7-8 x 0.7-0.9 cms, flat, curved to V2 or 3 circle, orange-yellow, seeds shiny black. Central Qld.; Northern N.T. and W.A. @@@ 20 @@@ Page 356—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 (f) Leaflets hairy, 1-4 pairs. C. hamersleyensis. Small shrub, pilose with pale erect hairs. Leaves 2-3 cms; leaflets 2-3 pairs, 5-12 x 4-9 mm. Inflorescence 4-6 flowers. Hamersley Ranges, W.A. C. helmsii. Shrub 1-2 m, with dense, short, woolly hairs. Leaves 2.5-5 cms; leaflets 3-4 pairs, 1-2.5 x 0.5-1.2 cms, obtuse, edges often recurved. Glands sessile. Inflorescence 4-10 flowers. Colour plate on page 345. Widespread through arid Australia — W.A., N.T., N.S.W., S.A. C. oligoclada. Shrub 20-60 cms, with dense, straight hairs. Leaves 1-5 cms variable. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, 0.5-3 x 0.15-1 cms. Glands on stalks 1-2 mm. Inflorescence of 2-5 flowers. From Kimberley region, W.A., to Arnhem Land. (g) Leaflets hairy, 4-9 pairs. C. surattensis. Shrub several metres, glabrous or slight hairy. Leaves to 15 cms. Leaflets to 7 pairs, 2-56 x 1-2 cms. Glands between 2 or 3 pairs of leaflets, on stalks 3 mm. Pod flat and straight. Native to Asia. Introduced to Arnhem Land, N.T. C. retusa. Shrub or small tree, hairy with golden or pale hairs. Leaves 5-10 cms; leaflets 4-6 pairs, 1-3 x 0.7-1.5 cms. Glands 1-3 on stalks 2-4 mm. Coastal tropical and subtropical Qld. C. pilocarina. Shrub 30-50 cms, hairy when young, glabrous with age. Leaves 1-2 cms; leaflets 5-9 pairs, 5-12 x 2-3 mm Colour plate on page 349. Hamersley Range, W.A. (h) Leaves almost linear, coastal N.S.W. C. odorata. Shrub 1-2 m. Leaves 5-11 cms; leaflets 8-11 pairs, 1-2.5 x 0.2-0.6 cms. Glands 2-3, prominent. Pod flat straight. Coastal N.S.W. C. aciphylla. Shrub to 1.5 m but often trailing, hairy with pale or yellowish hairs. Leaves 2-10 cms; leaflets 8-12 pairs, 1.5-3 cms, linear, channelled above. Pod flat, often slightly curved. Coastal N.S.W.; Southern QId.; Northern Vic. C. coronillioides. Shrub 1-2 m, sparcely hairy. Leaves 3-6 cms; leaflets 7-17 pairs, 8-18 x 2-5 mm. Gland 1 slender. Stipule 2-3 mm, sub-persistent. Pod straight or slightly curved. Coastal subtropical Qld.; north N.S.W. (i) Hybrids Hybrids in this section are extremely frequent, and any plant not easily fitted into one of the above species is probably a hybrid. They present an almost complete range of morphological forms, and it is easiest to name them by referring each plant to the nearest species, or to one of a number of arbitrary standards. Obviously, each of these ‘'standards” has no clearly defined limits, and some plants could be referred to more than one of them. Further, some of these ‘‘standards” have been given specific rank by various workers, but this cannot be maintained. The ‘*‘standards” suggested by B. Randell are: C. hybrid artemisioides. Shrub very variable, sparcely to densely hairy. Leaflets deeply channelled. or linear and inrolled, in 3-6 pairs. Colour plate on page 337. Widespread through arid Australia. C. hybrid nemophila. Shrub very variable, glabrous or sparsely hairy, often glaucous. Leaflets deeply channelled, or linear and inrolled, in 1-2 pairs. Widespread through arid Australia. C. hybrid platypoda. Shrub. Leaf petioles vertically flattened, 0.5-2 cms broad. Leaflets elliptic or sometimes vertically flattened, to 0.5 cms wide. Glabrous and glaucous, or sparcely hairy. Widespread through arid Australia. @@@ 21 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 357—Vol. 8 C. hybrid coriacea. Shrub or small tree, usually glabrous, sometimes glaucous, rarely hairy. Leaflets 2-5 pairs, usually elliptic, very variable, 5-15 x 3-8 mm. Widespread throughout arid Australia. C. hybrid zygophylla. Shrub, leaves usually glabrous, sometimes glaucous, rarely sparcely hairy. Leaflets narrow elliptic, 1-2 pairs, 1.5-3 cms x 3-8 mm. Widespread through arid eastern Australia. C. hybrid sturtii. Shrub, densely woolly hairy, grey. Leaflets 4-6 pairs. elliptic, 1-2 cms x 3-8 mm. See colour plate on page 340. Widespread through arid Australia. (c) (2) Subgenus Senna—other sections Pods long and dehiscent, fertile stamens 6 or 7. A group of 16 species. 9 of which have been introduced to Australia. Several of the introduced species are well known in gardens, such as C. alata, C. didymobotrya, C. colutioides, C. tomentosa. The native species C. notabilis has attractive foliage and pods, C. venusta is a showy erect shrub, C. magnifolia has fine leaves and showy flowers. The last three are all worth trying. Notes to Species of Subgenus Senna—Other Sections. (a) Fertile stamens 6, gland at base of petiole. C. hirsuta. Shrub hairy on all parts. Leaves 10-15 cms; leaflets 4-6 pairs variable in size and shape, 1-7 x 0.5-3 cms. Fertile stamens 6, the lowest pair on long curved filaments. Pod 10 x 0.6 cms, slightly curved, slightly flattened. Native to tropical America. Collected in south-west Qld. in 1959. C. occidentalis. Annual or short-lived shrub, 1-2 m, very sparcely hairy, becoming glabrous at maturity. Leaflets 3-5 pairs, 3-7 x 2-3 cms. Flower stalk rarely greater than 0.5 cms. Fertile stamens 6, lowest pair on longer filaments. Pods somewhat flattened. Native to Jamaica, first recorded in Qld. in 1888. Now established in tropical and subtropical W.A.; N.T.; Qld. C. planitiicola. Shrub 0.1-2 m, herbaceous or short-lived. Leaves 5-15 cms; leaflets 4-6(7) pairs, 1.5-6 x 0.8-2 cms. Flower stalk 1-5 cms. Fertile stamens 6, lowest pair on long curved filaments. Pod 6-8 x 1 cms. cylindrical. Native, widely distributed in central Australia. C. barclayana. Herbaceous or perennial shrub 0.5-1 m. Leaves 10 cms, glabrous (hairy in var. pubescens). Leaflets 3-6(7) pairs, 2-4.5 x 0.6-1.3 cms. Fertile stamens 6, the lowest pair on long curved filaments. The basal sterile stamen also on a longer filament. Pod 4-7 x 0.7 cms, cylindrical. Found in Central Western wheat districts of Qld. and N.SW. It is weedy on pasture and cereal lands. (b) Fertile stamens 7. Leaflets 2-3 pairs, stipules persistent. C. tora. Shrub or subshrub 0.5-1 m. Leaflets 2-3 pairs, largest 2-4 x 1-2 cms. Pod pedicel less than 1.5 cms. Pod 10-15 x 0.4-0.6 cms, terete with prominent lateral ridges. Native to Asia, introduced to Darwin before 1888. C. obtusifolia. Herb or small shrub about 1m. Leaves 5-10 cms; leaflets 3 pairs, 1-6 x 0.5-3 cms. Pod pedicel 1.5-4 cms. Pod about 15 x 0.5 cms, subtetragonous. Native to tropical America. Pantropic weed, but only in the N.T. of Australia. @@@ 22 @@@ Page 358—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 (c) Fertile stamens 7. Leaflets 4-20 pairs, stipules persistent. C. alata. Erect shrub or small tree, densely minutely hairy. Leaves to 60 cms; leaflets 10-20 pairs, 6-12 x 4-6 cms. Pod stiff and straight with a prominent wing 5 mm high along each valve. Native to tropical America, now a pantropic weed. Tropical Qld. and N.T. C. didymobotrya. Large shrub 2-3 m. Leaves 10-30 cms; leaflets 6-15 pairs, 2.5-6 x 1-2.3 cms. Flowers in erect spike-like racemes, sepals dark brown. Native to tropical Africa, widely grown ornamental in Australia. Locally established in Qld. and N.S.W. C. venusta. Shrub 1-2 m. Leaves large 10-25 cms, hairy. Leaflets 6-15 pairs, 2.5-4 x 1.3-1.9 cms. Fertile stamens 7, 2 of basal 3 larger. Inland tropical and subtropical W.A., N.T., Qld. Colour, page 384. (d) Fertile stamens 7, plant hairy, leaflets 5-20 pairs, stipules falling. C. tomentosa. Shrub 2-3 m. Leaves 5-10 cms; leaflets 5-8 pairs, 2-3 x 0.6-1 cms. Pod 8-14 x 1 cms, somewhat compressed. Native to tropical America. Garden shrub, naturalised in parts of Qld. and N.S.W. C. timoriensis. Erect or straggly shrub, hairy with golden hairs. Leaves 4-10 cms; leaflets 13-19 pairs, 1.9-3.3 x 0.5-1.2 cms. Pod 7.5-9 x 0.9-1.2 cms, flat and straight. Common in SE Asia, rare in northern W.A.,, N.T., Qld. C. notabilis. Small shrub or short-lived perennial, all parts hairy. Leaves 10-15 cms; leaflets 6-13 peirs, 2.5 x 1 cms. Pod flat 2.5-3.5 x 1.3 cms. Widespread in subtropical W.A., N.T. and far west Qld. (e) Fertile stamens 7, plant glabrous, leaflets 3-12 pairs, stipules falling. C. floribunda. Shrub or small tree 1-3 m. Leaves 10-15 cms; leaflets 3-5 pairs, 3-7 x 2-3 cms. Glands on midrib, several. Pod 5-8 x 1 cms, terete. Native to tropical America, weedy in Africa and Asia. Occasionally cultivated in Australia, in coastal areas of Qld. and N.S.W. C. colutioides. Large sprawling shrub to several metres. Leaves 5-8 cms; leaflets 4-5 pairs, 1-5 x 0.5-2 cms. 1 gland on midrib. Pod 10 x 0.6 cms, terete, sutures prominent. Native to tropical South America, naturalised in Qld. and N.S.W. A garden shrub in Australia, sometimes appearing in nursery lists as C. candolleana or C. corymbosa. C. magnifolia. Erect straggly shrub, 1-4 m. Leaves large 10-30 cms; leaflets 3-8 pairs, 3-8.5 x 2.0-5.5 cms. W.A./N.T. border and Cairns hinterland Qld. C. pleurocarpa. Shrub 1-3 m. Pod with longitudinal ridges. Leaves 7-15 cms, without glands. Leaflets variable in the varieties. Colour, page 352. var. pleurocarpa. Leaflets 5-9 pairs; 2-5 x 0.6-1.2 cms. Widespread. var. angustifolia. Leaflets 8-9 pairs; 5-7 x 0.3-0.4 cms. Restricted in W.A. var. longifolia. Leaflets 11-12 pairs; 2.5-4 x 0.4-0.6 cms. Restricted in Qid. KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CASSIA IN AUSTRALIA KEY TO THE SUBGENERA 1. Follar glands present along leaf midrib 3 1. Foliar glands absent along leaf midrib 2. 2. Pod indehiscent, 20-60 cms long Subgenus Cassia 2. Pod dehiscent, to 15 cms long Subgenus Senna 3. Pod dehiscent, to 15 cms long Subgenus Senna 3 Pod elastically dehiscent, to 4 cms long Subgenus Absus @@@ 23 @@@ 1. 1 Lo ww September, 1976 ¥ AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 359—Vol. 8 KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SUBGENUS ABSUS Leaflets usually in 2 pairs, plant viscid or sticky C. absus Leaflets more numerous 2, 2. Leaflets 20-80 palrs C. mimosioides 2. Leaflets 3-20 pairs 3. Leaflets 10-15 palrs, fertile stamens 5 C. pumila Leaflets 5-14 pairs, fertlle stamens 10 C. harneyi KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SUBGENUS CASSIA Inflorescence of many flowers (30-60) 2 Inflorescence of fewer flowers (to 20) 3. 2. Flcwers 30-50, pod cylindrical C. fistula 2. Flowers 50-60, pod flattened and ribbed C. queenslandica Plant with young parts densely halry C. tomentella Plant sparsely halry, or becoming glabrous 4. 4. Leaflets 2-4 pairs, Inflorescence 7-20 cms long, pod compressed C. brewsteri e w» SN ©v®o 11 LS 13. 13. 15. 15. (s oo 4. Leaflets 7-8 pairs, Inflorescence 7-8 cms long, pod nearly cylindrical . KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SUBGENUS SENNA Fertile stamens 6 or 7 Fertlle stamens 10 2. Fertile stamens 6, gland at base of petlole 2. Fertile stamens 7, glands on midrib Pod cylindrical Pod flattened 4. Basal sterlle stamen on short filament 4. Basal sterlle stamen on long filament Shrub hairy on all parts Plant sparsely hairy, becoming glabrous with age 6. Leaves with persistent stipules 6. Leaves with stipules falling early Leaflets 2-3 pairs Leaflets 4-20 pairs 8. Pod with prominent lateral ridges, pod pedicel less than 1.5 cms long 8. Pod with four angles, pedicel 1.5-4 cms Leaflets 10-20 pairs, 6-12 x 4-6 cms, halry Leaflets 6-15 palrs, much smaller 10. Flowers in splke-llke racemes, sepals dark brown 10. Flowers in erect racemes, sepals not brown Plant halry, leaflets 5-20 palrs Plant glabrous, leaflets 3-12 palrs 12. Leaflets 5-8 palrs. Pod 8-14 cms long 12. Leaflets 6-19 pairs. Pod to 9 cms long Leaflets 13-19 palrs, pod 7-9 cms long Leaflets 6-13 pairs, pod 2-4 cms long 14. Leaves 10-30 cms long, leaflets 3-8 palrs 14. Leaves 5-15 cms long Leat midrib without glands Leaf midrib bearlng glands 16. Leaflets 3-7 cms long, glands several 16. Leaflets 1-5 cms long, one gland KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SECTION PSILORHEGMA Species from semi-arid central plains of Australla Specles from coastal N.S.W. 2. Leaves almost completely reduced to phyllodes, leaflets fall early 2. Leaflets persistent Phyllodes terete; pod spiral, of 1-2 coils Phyllodes vertically flattened 4. Leaflets 1 pair, gland terminal 4. Leaflets 2 pairs, gland not terminal (Leaflets 1-2 pairs, broad persistent Leaves with specialised surface covering Leaves without specialised covering 6. Young parts very viscid or sticky 6. Young parts pruinose (with a white powdery covering) C. marksiana 2. Sectlon Psilorhegma (q.v.) 00 OO0 9k oW o0 =N (]9 NN @° O 0O NO OOO &0 0w - SO o0 (919} 5‘,0 _;,;0 (919] .('.;O ;,\'; . planitiicola . barclayana . hirsuta . occidentalis . tora . obtusifolia . alata . didymobotrya . venusta . tomentosa . timoriensis . notabilis . magnifolia . pleurocarpa . floribunda . coluteoides . circinnata . “platypoda’’ phyllodinea . hybrid platypoda) . glutinosa . prulnosa @@@ 24 @@@ Page 360—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 7. Leaflets almost completely terete 7. Leaflets flattened 8. Leaflets 3-8 palrs, more or less halry 8. Leaflets 1-2 pailrs, glabrous (Leaflets 1-2 palrs, linear and Inrolled 9. Leaflets 3-4 pairs, short, densely packed, densely halry 9. Leaflets 4-8 pairs, long, sparsely to densely halry (Leaflets 3-8 palirs, linear and Inrolled 10. Plant glabrous, leaflets 1-10 palrs 10. Plant halry, leaflets 1-9 palrs 11. Leaflets 1-3 pairs 11. Leaflets 4-10 pairs 12. Leaves elliptic, polnted 12. Leaves broad, with rounded apex 13. Shrub green and glabrous, leaflets to 5 mm broad 13. Shrub glaucous, rusty red, leaflets to 8 mm broad (Leaflets 1-2 palrs, glabrous, elliptic, 1.5-3 cms long 14. Shrub glabrous and green, Inflorescence 6-20 flowers 14. Shrub glaucous and purplish, Inflorescence 2-3 flowers 15. Glands on leaf midrib on stalks 1-4 mm long 15. Glands on midrib sessile 16. Leaflets 7-10 pairs, 3-5 mm long 16. Leaflets 4-6 palrs, 2-4 cms long 17. Leaflets 4 pairs, 1-1.5 cms broad 17. Leaflets 4-6 pairs, 0.4-0.6 cms broad 18. Leaflets 1-4 pairs 18. Leaflets 4-9 pairs 19. Leaflets 3-4 pairs with dense woolly halrs, edges often recurved 19. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, with stralght halrs 20. Leaflets 2-3 palrs, to 1.2 cms long 20. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, to 3 cms long, glands on midrib stalked 21. Small shrub to 0.5 m, leaves 1-2 cms long 21. Shrub or tree, leaves 5-15 cms long 22, Glands stalked, halrs golden or pale, leaves 5-10 cms long 22. Glands stalked, halrs few or absent, leaves to 15 cms long (Gland sessile, plant with dense woolly halrs (Glands sesslle, halrs few or absent 23. Shrub but often tralling, glands not prominent, leaflets lInear 23. Erect shrub, glands prominent, leaflets to 6 mm broad 24, Gland 1 slender, stipule sometimes persistent 24. Glands 2-3, promlinent REFERENCES . ““‘nemophila”’ . hybrld nemophila) . manicula . artemisioides . hybrid artemlsioldes) . ‘“‘zygophylla A" . ““zygophylla B’ . hybrid zygophylla) C. oligophylla C. . leptoclada chatelainiana . “‘coriacea"’ . terraria . costata helmsii . hamersleyensis . oligoclada . pilocarina retusa . surattensis . hybrid sturtll) . hybrld corlacea) . aciphylla . coronillioides odorata Symon, D. E. (1966). A Revislon of the genus Cassia L. Caesalplnaceae In Australla. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust. Vol. 90, pp. 73-146. Randell, B. R. (1970). Adaptations In the Genetic System of Australlan Arld Zone Cassla specles. Aust. Jour. Bot. Vol. 18, pp. 77-97. FLOWERS IN STAINED GLASS WINDOWS by E. M. McCulloch, 6 Bullen Ave., Mitcham, Vic. 3132 | am very Interested In tracilng the use of Australlan animals (Including birds) and tliowers In stalned glass windows. Would any of your members be able to tell me of any samples known to them? Those | have found so far have been elther In churches, or homes from about 1920. Before that, what | have found has been of European orlgin, malnly palnted scenes, some of them pleasantly done but far from Australlan In design. | am convinced that somewhere or other there wlll be a church window featuring St. Francls of Assisl surrounded by Australlan animals. There Is a famous window of thls at Selborne, In England, and also one In South Africa. So far the only one | have seen here Is at Kew In Victorla, and has styllsed general birds, particular specles that | can see. animals and flowers of no i anyone has any Information | would be most Interested to hear from them. it Is fascinating, If somewhat frustrating, trylng to sort out when the changeover from nightingales Interested could supply photographs, sketches, tracings or detalled descriptions It would be doubly valuable. All to kookaburras and waratahs took place In this medlum. If those letters wlll be gratefully acknowledged. @@@ 25 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 361—Vol. 8 THE FAMILY CAESALPINIACEAE by C. N. Debenham Cassia, Acacia and Puitenaea are genera well known to the Australian scene and serve to give perspective to our title. While the examples may show more conspicuous differences as, for example, the inflorescences, the number of stamens (numerous in Acacia, 10 usually in Cassia, constantly in Pultenaea), other features of the flower must be considered for comparisons at the family level. In each, the flower is bisexual and complete. The ovary, produced to a simple style and stigma, is superior, monocarpellate, and becomes, on matura- tion, a pod. The pod may be indehiscent in some Cassia and Acacia but more generally it is dehiscent by two valves and then a legume. 'S ACACIA Examine the corollas of each and significant differences emerge. Least significant in size is that of Acacia, the five (or four) petals are arranged regularly edge to edge without modification. The sepals are united, edge to edge (valvate), to form a five- (or four-) lobed or toothed tube. In Cassia, the petals overlap by their margins (are imbricate), the uppermost petal innermost, the basal petal outer and slightly larger. Sepals of Cassia are free almost to the base and also are imbricate. In Pultenaea, modification is greatest. The corolla here is the papilionaceous (butterfly-like) type composed of standard formed by the uppermost petal which usually is the largest two lateral wings, and a lowermost pair, the keel, formed by partial union of margins and enclos- ing reproductive parts. While the petals are imbricate, the sepals form a five- lobed tube. @@@ 26 @@@ Page 362—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Cassia, Acacia and Pultenaea represent a very largs group of legume bearers traditionally known as Leguminosae. The floral differences are regarded by many to be constant and significant enough to separate the group (as an order, Leguminales) to families. The three genera are assigned, then, respec- tively to Caesalpiniaceae (from the pantropic Caesalpinia, named after the ltalian systematist, Mimosaceae (from the American Mimosa) and Fabaceae (from the old Linnean name for Vicia and retained for broad bean, Vicia faba). Papilionaceae is an alternative to Fabaceae. Besides Cassia, only 12 of the approximately 150 genera of Caesal- piniaceae are native to Australia. Most members are woody but have pinnate or bipinnate leaves. Some Cassia are herbaceous or have leaves reduced to phyllodes: simple, digitate or unifoliolate leaves occur in Labichea. Stipules when present are small or minute and deciduous, with some exceptions in Cassia. Flowers may be solitary along the branches or occur in simple or paniculate racemes; their pollination is by insects. A major interest of the family in Australia is the ornamental value provided by exotic small to large trees adaptable to dry inland conditions, e.g. the Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos, the Carob Bean Ceratonia siliqua, and the Judas Tree Cercis siliquastrum. Cultivated in the tropics or in sheltered places of the warm temperate zones are the poincianas of Caesalpinia and Delonix, also species of Bauhinia again from tropical Africa and Asia but with a few native (some of which may be referred to other genera). With a tolerance to a much wider climatic range are the many species of both native and exotic cassias, some, for example Cassia floribunda from South America, encroaching as serious weeds to native forest areas. KEY TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERA A. Leaves pinnate, digitate, unifoliolate, or simple. 1. Leaves with a terminal leaflet (imparipinnate) or (Labichea) digitate, unifoliolate, or simple. Petals and sepals 5 or 4, the sepals free almost to the base. Stamens 2 or 3, the filaments very short. Pod 2-valved, flat, oblique, oblong lanceolate or linear, the funicle of the seed expanded to a globular fleshy appendage. Shrubs, tropical and temperate. Flowers few in short axillary racemes, yellow. Ovary 2- or 3-ovuled, tapered into a short style with a small terminal stigma. Stamens 2; anthers opening in terminal pores. Colour plates, page 372. A pantropical genus with about 9 species, a few in temperate W.A. 1. Labichea Flowers solitary on axilliary psduncles, yellow. Ovary many-ovuied, the style large and petaloid, forming a pouch above the ovary, 3- lobed with the middle lobe much longer and terminated by a small stigma. Stamens 3, the anthers opening in longitudinal slits; sta- minodes 2. Colour plate, page 376. Three pantropical species. 2. Petalostylis 2. Leaves without a terminal leaflet, in a few Cassia reduced to phyllodes. a. Anthers opening in-longitudinal slits. Leaflet-pairs 1 or few. Petals 5. Sepals 4 with 1 broader than the other 3, free almost to the base. Stamens 10 or more, the filaments filiform. Pod 2-valved, turgid, thick and fleshy, ovoid or semiorbicular, usually with 1 seed. Flowers in axillary or lateral clusters or short racemes, small, red. Ovary 2-ovuled. A single species of trees, C. iripa, confined to NE Q. 3. Cynometra @@@ 27 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 363—Vol. 8 Leaflet-pairs single in Australian species, the leaflets with 5 or more digitate veins. Petals 5; sepals 5, valvate, united in a short or long tube. Stamens 10 or some reduced to staminodes. Pod 2-valved, flat, linear or oblong, several-seeded. Flowers in short terminal racemes, white or red. Ovary several ovuled. Tropical trees or woody climbers. Current research has shown that 2 distinct genera are concerned here. They are Lysiphyllum and Piliostigma. 4. Bauhinia Leaflet-pairs 2 or more. Sepals 4, imbricate, united in a tube, long in Intsia, otherwise very short. Petals 1, the others minute or none. Stamens 8, some reduced to staminodes. Pod 2-valved, compressed, coriaceous, oblong, transversely septate between the seeds; seeds transverse, thick, arillate. Flowers in terminal paniculate racemes. Ovary many-ovuled. A single species of tree, NE Q., I. bijuga. 5. Intsia (formerly Afzelia) : Petals 5, narrowly linear. Stamens 15 to 10. Pod turgid, thick, ovoid, pitted; sseds 2, transverse. Flowers in racemes from leafless branches. Ovary 2-ovuled. Leaflets glaucous on the undersurface, when young enclosed by long car- tilaginous scales coarsely serrate at the apex. A single species of tree, NE Q., Maniltoa schefferi. 6. Maniltoa Leaflet-pairs 10-20. Petals 3, the upper 1 innermost, narrower, the lower 2 minute or scale-like. Stamens 3, united in a sheath to about the middle, with a few minute staminodes at the top of the sheath. Pod indehiscent, somewhat compressed, thick, incurved, linear or oblong, septate between the seeds. Flowers in short loose racemes at the ends of the shoots, yellowish. Ovary several-ovuled. Tropical trees. A single species, T. indious, extending from north ?? to N.T. 7. Tamarindus b. Anthers opening in terminal pores or short lateral slits. Leaflet-pairs from several to 2 or 1, sometimes replaced by phyllodes. Petals 5. Sepals 5, imbricate, united in a very short tube. Stamens usually 10, free, either all equal and perfect or some reduced to staminodes. Pod indehiscent or 2-valved, cylindrical to flat; seeds transverse. Flowers in axillary or terminal racemes, or axiliary and solitary. usually yellow. Ovary many-ovuled. Trees, shrubs or herbs. 8. Cassia B. Leaves bipinnate. Stamens 10, all perfect. Sepals 5, shortly united, imbri- cate except in Erythrophleum. Petals 5, imbricate. Flowers in racemes either simple or paniculate, usually yellow. Trees, shrubs. or woody climbers, tropical. Style with a broad peltate stigma. Prickles absent. Ovary sessile, with 2 or more ovules. Pod indehiscent, thin or flat, not distinctly winged, oblong or lanceolate. Large trees. One species, P. pterocarpum, N.T. to NE Q. Colour plate, page 369. 9. Peltophorum Style with a small or truncate stigma. Branchlets often prickly. Fruit samaroid, indehiscent, the seed-bearing part obliquely ovate or elliptic, the upper part produced as an obliquely oblong or falcate wing, 1-seeded, red. One species, NE Q., P. nitens. 10. Pterolobium @@@ 28 @@@ Page 364—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Fruit indehiscent or finally opening in 2 valves, the upper suture bordered by a wing, flat, few or 1-seeded. Usually tall climbing shrubs. One species, NE Q., M. brachycarpum. 11. Mezoneuron Fruit 2-valved, not winged, flat, obliquely ovate or oblong or broadly linear and falcate, sometimes with prickles, 1 or few-seeded. About 4 pantropical species. 12. Caesalpinia Fruit 2-valved, not winged, flat, oblong, usually several-seeded. Sepals valvate. Petals only siightly imbricate. Flowers small, almost sessile in long cylindrical spikes forming a terminal panicle. Trees. 13. Erythrophleum The one species, E. chlorostachyum, is the ‘“Black Bean” of the Kimberleys, so called because of its almost black, close-grained and extremely hard timber. Known as Ironwood. Acknowledgement: | am grateful to the helpful comments by Mr L. Pedley recorded below clarifylng a number of nomenclatural points, especlally the position of Bauhinia— error remalning, of course, is my own. NOTES ON CAESALPINIACEAE IN QUEENSLAND by L. Pedley, Supervising Botanist of the Queensland Herbarium A review of the tribe Bauhineae (H. C. D. de Wit—Reinwardti, vol. 3, pp. 388-539) recognised 7 genera, most of which had been regarded as sections or subgenera of Bauhinia. Of these Piliostigma and Lysiphyllum are the only ones to occur in Australia. Publication of a paper shortly will clarify the nomenclature and allow Lysiphyllum to be used for all five native species. One species is undescribed and two, Bauhinia carronii and B. hookeri, are to be transferred to Lysiphyllum. There is only one native species of Piliostigma, P. malabathricum. Diagnostic characters of the genera are:— Bauhinia. Leaves bilobed. Sepals linear, the majority coherent laterally (calyx spathaceous). Stamens 1-10. Ovary long-stiped, slender, with a slender style. Stigma small. Lysiphyllum. Leaves consisting of two free leaflets. Sepals free. Perfect stamens 10. Ovarial stipe connate with the wall of the receptacle. Style well developed. Stigma large, peltate. Piliostigma. Leaves bilobed. Sepals free or coherent in two lobes in their upper half, all coherent in the lower half. Flowers dioecious; male flowers with 10 stamens; female flowers with ovary on a free stipe, style more or less absent, stigma large peltate. Other northern genera in the family Caesalpiniaceae where some con- fusion has occurred over nomenclature are:— Cynometra: The Australian species is C. iripa, not as is often stated C. ramiflora, which occurs in New Guinea and the East Indies. Mesoneuron: In a revision of Malesian Caesalpinea Hattink (Reinwardtia vol. 9, pp. 1-69, 1974) united Mesoneuron with Caesalpinea. He transferred two Australian species, Mesoneuron brachycarpum and M. schortechinii to Caes- alpinia but overlooked Mesoneuron robustum which occurs on the Atherton Tableland. The formal transfer of Mesoneuron robustum to Caesalpinia will be made in a forthcoming paper. Tamarindus indicus is from cultivated trees and is an introduced plant. Pterolobium does not occur in Australia. Bentham described P. nitens from Queensland, but evidently it is not a species of Pterolobium. This matter is yet to be resolved. Intsia bijuga is the correct name of the species described by F. M. Bailey as Afzelia australis. . @@@ 29 @@@ é September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 365—Vol. 8 NORTHERN CAESALPINIACEAE The Cassia Family in the Northern Territory—by Jenny Harmer A large family confined mainly to tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world; there are 152 genera and about 2,800 species. Most species are trees or shrubs, a few are herbs. LEAVES: Usually alternate, pinnate or bipinnate, leaflets one to many pairs; leaves rarely simple or one-foliate; stipules present or absent. FLOWERS: Inflorescence racemose or paniculate, axillary, terminal or rarely leaf-opposed; flowers usually zygomorphic, mostly bisexual, some large and showy, others very small. Sepals 5, or 4 by the union of 2, free or partly united, imbricate or rarely valvate, often much reduced when the bracteoles are large and calyx-like. Petals 5 or fewer, rarely absent, variously imbricate. Stamens 10 or fewer, free to variously connate; anthers various; extra staminal disc sometimes present. Ovary free or sometimes the stipe fused to the calyx tube; style single, undivided; ovules one to many. FRUIT: A legume, or indehiscent pod, often winged; seeds with copious, thin or no endosperm and large embryo. NATIVE OR INTRODUCED There are a number of plants in this family that have been introduced in recent times by various means, and hence are not regarded as native to Australia. To resolve confusion and assist in identification of plants in the territory brief mention of them has been made in the following notes. BAUHINIA A genus of trees, shrubs and vines with showy flowers and occurring in the tropical regions of the world. LEAVES: Broad, entire or two-lobed, sometimes the leaflets being entirely free; the leaf-stalk prolonged into a short but characteristic awn between the leaflets. FLOWERS: In simple or panicled terminal or axillary racemes. Petals 5, somewhat unequal, usually clawed. Stamens 10, but sometimes reduced even to 3 and perhaps bearing sterile filaments. Ovary stalked, stigma in some species peltate and in others oblique. FRUIT: A long flat pod, dehiscent or indehiscent. Only one of the 300 species occurs in the Northern Territory:— B. hookeri A spreading shrub or tree growing at the landward edge of tidal swamps or on stabilised coastal sand above the high tide level. The paired leaflets are quite separate, broadly ovate or obovate, 2.5-5 cm long and with 5-7 fine veins. The flowers are borne in short terminal racemes; the petals, 3.5 cm long, are white; the 10 red stamens are slightly longer than the petals. The pods are flat, 12-16 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm broad. CAESALPINIA About 100 species of tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs, often with showy flowers. LEAVES: Bipinnate. FLOWERS: In racemes, either single in the upper axils or forming terminal panicles. Calyx with short tube and 5 imbricated lobes, the lowest one concave and larger. Petals 5, clawed, usually orbicular or obovate and nearly equal. Stamens 10, curved. Ovary sessile with 2 or more ovules and a slender elongated style. FRUIT: An ovate to lanceolate pod, usually flattened, often indehiscent. One species occurs in the Northern Territory: Caesalpinia bonduc A shrub with loose spreading or climbing branches growing in coastal monsoon forests. The branches and leaves are armed with numerous hooked @@@ 30 @@@ Page 366—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 prickles. The leaflets are oblong, 2-4 cm long. The flowering spikes, 10-15 cm long, are produced in the upper leaf axils and are sometimes branched; the individual yellow flowers are about 1 cm long. The pods, 5-8 cm long and about 4 cm wide, are covered with thick, stiff prickles. The large seeds are a grey-blue colour and are very hard. The species is pantropic. CASSIA 500-600 species of trees, shrubs or herbs occurring in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. LEAVES: Paripinnate with one to many pairs of leaflets or sometimes reduced to phyllodes; petiolar glands often present; stipules present. FLOWERS: In axillary or terminal racemes, terminal panicles or axillary and sub-solitary. Sepals 5, unequal, imbricate. Petals 5, spreading, nearly equal or the lower outer one larger. Stamens usually 10, rarely 5 but much modified, and 10, 7 or 6 may be fertile with the upper 3 and the lowest one reduced to staminodes; filaments rarely all equal; fertile anthers opening by pores or slits. Ovary usuzlly curved and with few to many ovules; the stigma obliquely terminal, small. FRUIT: Pod variable, cylindrical woody and indehiscent, or cylindrical or flattened and two-valved, or flattened and elastically dehiscent. Seeds usually obovate, sometimes oblong, albuminous. Cassia absus A viscid herb or subshrub found in gravelly soils. Leaflets in 2 pairs 1-2.5 cm by 0.8-1.5 cm, thin, obovate, unequal sided. Inflorescence a raceme 2-8 cm long, solitary axillary flowers also occurring; sepals oblong obovate, blunt, bristly; petals yellow with red basz, 5-7 mm long, glabrous; stamens 5. all fertile; ovules 6-8. Pod 2-4 cm long, 0.5-0.6 cm wide, flat, viscid-hispid, elastically dehiscent; seeds shining black, flattish. Cassia alata An erect shrub or small tree growing at the edges of rainforests or other damp situations. The leaves, to 60 cm long, consist of 10-20 pairs of leaflets which are 6-12 cm long by 4-6 cm wide, oblong, oblong-obovate unequal sided, bright green above paler below. Inflorescence an erect, axillary raceme 30-60 cm long; sepals unequal, oblong-oval; petals 1.5-2 cm long, obovate- oval, golden yellow; stamens 10, very unequal, the uppermost 3 greatly reduced and infertile; ovules 60-70. Pod minutely pubescent or glabrous, 15 cm long, stiff, straight with prominent wings. A native to tropical South America this species has become naturalised in the Northern Territory and Queensland. Cassia costata A shrub 1-2 m high or rarely a small tree. Leaves 4-6 cm long, glaucous, with 4-6 pairs of leaflets which are 2-4 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide, oblong- elliptic. Inflorescence a condensed, subumbellate, axillary raceme of 2-6 flowers; sepals 4-5 mm, unequal, broadly ovate; petals 7-10 mm long, yellow; 10 fertile stamens. Pod 7-8 cm long by 0.7-0.9 cm wide, curved to nearly half a circle, the margin broadly crenate, a bright golden yellow, it dries to a rich brown; up to 20 plump, shiny black seeds. Cassia harneyi An annual or perennial herb growing in sandy soils or amongst sandstone rocks. The leaves, 5-9 cm long, have 5-14 pairs of leaflets which are 1.6-2.4 cm long and 0.4-05 cm wide, oblanceolate mucronate, slightly hairy. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2 or 3 together; sepais obtuse, 3 mm long; petals yellow, 4 mm long; stamens 8-10, anthers all perfect. Pod 2.5-3.5 cm long by 0.4-0.5 cm wide, oblong, finely hairy and containing 5-9 oblong seeds. Cassia leptoclada A slender, glabrous and very glaucous shrub growing in sandy soils. Two pairs of leaflets, the upper pair 1.3-3 cm long by 0.7-1.5 cm wide, the lower pair smaller or absent. Flowers produced in the upper axils, 2 or 3 together: sepals obtuse, unequal 4-5 mm long: petals 8-10 mm long, obovate- @@@ 31 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 367—Vol. 8 oval, deep yellow; stamens 10, all fertile, more or less equal. Pod flat, glabrous, either 1-seeded and nearly orbicular 1 cm diameter, or 2-seeded and 1.5 cm by 1 cm. Cassia magnifolia An erect, straggly shrub 1-4 m high with thick spreading stems. Leaves 10-30 cm long with 3-8 pairs of leaflets which are ovate or orbicular-ovate, 3-85 cm long, 2-55 cm wide, glabrous with prominent veins. Flowers numerous in erect axillary racemes 35-40 cm long, sepals obovate, 1 cm long; petals obovate 0.8-1 cm long, yellow; stamens 10, 3 of which are sterile; ovules 7-15. Pod flat, dark when mature, 8-9 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide with 10-12 oblong obovate, rough, dull black seeds. Cassia mimosoides A slender herb or short-lived shrub often growing in bare areas. Leaves 3-8 cm long with 30-80 pairs of leaflets which are almost rhombic, 3-5 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide. Inflorescence a single flowered raceme, solitary or in group of 2-3 in the leaf axils; sepais lanceolate, 5-8 mm long; petals obovate, yellow 6-10 mm long; stamens 10 or fewer; ovules 15-30. Pod 3-4 cm long and 0.4 cm wide, thin, flat, elastically dehiscent with 10-14 smooth, flat, brown seeds. Cassia notabilis A small shrub or short-lived perennial, the 'eaves and stems covered with soft hairs. Leaves 10-15 cm long with 6-13 pairs of sessile, ovate-lanceolate leaflets, 2.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. Flowers in erect terminal and axillary racemes; sepals oblong, 5-6 mm; petals obovate, yellow, 6 mm long; stamens 10, 3 sterile; ovules about 7. Pod flat 2.5-3.5 cm long and 1.3 cm wide, blackish-brown with paler edges and raised ridges over the seeds. Cassia obtusifolia A herb or small shrub growing as a weed in open or disturbed areas. Leaves 5-10 cm long with 3 pairs of obovate, obtuse leaflets; the lower leaflets 1-3 cm by 0.5-2 cm and the upper ones 3-6 cm by 1.5-3 cm, dull and pubescent below, glabrous and greener above with paler, hairy margins. The inflorescences are few flowered and arise from the upper leaf axils; sepals unequal, oval to narrow ovate, 3-7 mm long, petals unequal, yellow, 7-10 mm long; stamens unequal, 7 fertile, the upper 3 reduced to staminodes. Pod 15 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, subtetragonous, curved, dehiscent with at least 30 rhomboidal, glossy, dark olive-green seeds. This species, probably a native of tropical America, has become a pantropic weed. Cassia occidentalis An annual or short-lived shrub growing as a weed in open or disturbed areas. 3-5 pairs of leaflets 3-7 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, ovate-elliptic, acuminate. Inflorescence a short raceme of 2-4 flowers in a terminal panicle or in the upper leaf axils; sepals unequal 5-10 mm long, obovate; petals 10-15 mm long, yellow, obovate; stamens 10, 6 fertile, the upper 3 very reduced. Pod 10-125 cm long, 0.8-1 cm wide, somewhat flattened, straight or slightly curved, the margins pale; 40-55 obovate, dull grey-brown seeds. This species has spread as a pantropic weed but is believed to have come from tropical America. Cassia oligoclada A small, densely pubescent subshrub with erect, angular branches growing in sandy soils. Leaves 1-5 cm long with 1 (rarely) to 3 pairs of oblong- oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic leaflets, 0.5-2 cm long and 0.15-1 cm wide. Inflorescence an umbel of 2-5 flowers in the upper axils; sepals unequal, obovate, 2-3 mm long; petals unequal, obovate or almost circular, yellow, 5-8 mm long; stamens 10, 8 or 7, all fertile. Pod 2-4 cm long and 0.7-1 cm wide, oblong, flat, slightly curved and containing 4-7 obcordate, almost black seeds. @@@ 32 @@@ Page 368—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Cassfa planitiicola A herb or short-lived shrub. Leaves 5-15 cm long with 4-6 pairs ovate leaflets, 1.5-6 cm long by 0.8-2 cm wide, green above paler below. Infior- escence an axillary or terminal, corymbose raceme with 2-4 flowers; sepals unequal, 4-8 mm, rounded; petals unequal, obovate-oval, yellow to pale yellow, 8-10 mm long; stamens 10, the upper 3 and usually the lowest one sterile. Pod 6-8 cm long by 1 cm wide, almost cylindrical, straight or curved; seeds flattish, dull olive-brown. Cassia pruinosa A straggly shrub, young parts often whitish, growing on rocky outcrops and slopes. Leaves 5-10 cm long with 3-7 pairs of oblong-elliptic, pruinose leaflets 10-15 mm long, 3-6 mm wide. Inflorescence subracemose or umbellate, axillary with 4-6 showy flowers; sepals oval, unequal, 3-5 mm long; petals yellow, oval 12 by 8 mm; 10 fertile stamens; ovules 15-18. Pod flat, 3-6 cm long, 1 cm wide; seeds thick, flattish, dark greenish-brown. Cassia pumila A subshrub with a woody base growing on a variety of soils. Leaves 0.8-1 cm long with 10-15 closely arranged, linear oblong pairs of leaflets, 4-7 by 1 mm. Inflorescence a single flowered raceme in the upper axils; sepals linear lanceolate 5-6 mm long; petals ovate-orbicular, 8-9 mm long, yellow; stamens 5, nearly equal; about 8 ovules. Pod flat, elastically dehiscent, 2-2.5 cm long, 0.4 cm wide and containing 8-10 smooth, dark rhomboid seeds. Cassia surattensis Shrub or small tree. Leaves 15 cm long with up to 7 pairs ovate to ovate- oblong leaflets, green and glabrous above, glaucous and sparsely pubescent below, 2-5 cm long, 1-2 cm wide. Inflorescence a condensed raceme arising from the upper leaf axils; sepals ovate-orbicular, 5-8 mm long; petals obovate, yellow, 10-15 mm long; 10 fertile stamens; ovules about 25. Pod flat, nearly straight, 10 cm long, 1 cm wide; seeds glossy black. Cassia timoriensis An erect or straggly shrub. Leaves 4-10 cm long with 13-19 pairs narrow oblong leaflets pubescent with golden hairs, 1.9-3.3 cm long, 0.5-1.2 mm wide. Inflorescence in racemes in the upper axils and loose terminal panicles; sepals oval, unequal, 6-7 mm long; petals obovate 7-10 mm long; stamens 10, the lower 7 fertile. Pod flat, straight, shiny rich dark brown, 7.5-9 cm long, 0.9-1.2 cm wide and containing 10-20 obovate, flattish seeds. Cassia tora A shrub or subshrub with light coloured stems. Leaflets in 2-3 pairs, obovate, obtuse 2-4 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, finely pubescent or becoming glabrous. Inflorescence a short raceme of 1-2 flowers from the upper leaf axils; sepals narrowly ovate, 5 mm long; petals unequal, narrowly ovate, yellow, 5-8 mm long; 7 fertile stamens, the other 3 reduced or absent. Pod 10-15 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide, somewhat tetragonous with prominent sutural ridges and 20-30 rhomboidal glossy seeds. Introduced from Asia Cassia venusta A shrub with ribbed, softly pubescent stems. Leaves 10-25 cm long with 6-15 pairs oblong leaflets, 2.5-4 cm long, 1.3-1.9 cm wide. Flowers numerous on long terminal and axillary racemes; sepals boat-shaped, 10 mm long; petals obovate, yellow, 10 mm long; stamens 10, 7 fertile; ovules about 9. Pod flat, light brown, 4-5 cm ‘long, 1-1.4 cm wide with transverse ridges above the seeds and a longitudinal ridge between the transverse ridges; seeds obcordate, thick, dark, dull. Colour plate on page 384. PARKINSONIA—Introduced Species from America and Africa Parkinsonia aculeata Small tree 3-4 m high growing along creekbanks, around dams and along roadsides. Introduced to northern Australia, it has become naturalized and has since been declared a noxious weed. @@@ 33 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 369—Vol. 8 PELTOPHORUM Twelve species of tall, hard-wooded tropical trees, one of which occurs in north Australia. Photography by Jenny Harmer A young tree of Peltophorum pterocarpum flowering profusely in a Darwin street. The bipinnate leaves and bright yellow flowers are shown in inserts. @@@ 34 @@@ Page 370—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 197¢ LEAVES: Bipinnate; leaflets small and numerous, opposite. FLOWERS: In terminal panicles of racemes. Sepals 5, united in a cup at the base, imbricate, nearly equal. Petals 5, orbicular, spreading, slightly unequal. Stamens 10, free; anthers uniform, oblong-linear. Ovary sessile with 2 or more ovules; style filiform with a broad peltate stigma. FRUIT: Pod oblong-lanceolate, thin and flat, indehiscent, tapering at the base, with a thin vein along the margins; seeds flat. Peltophorum pterocarpum A large deciduous tree which occurs on the coastal plains in clay soils, sometimes around lagoons and swamps or along rivers, and also on coastal sand dunes in rainforests. The young branches and inflorescences are covered in soft rust-coloured hairs; the bark is light grey. The leaflets, 1-2 cm long, are dark green and shiny above, and paler with rusty hairs below. The brilliant yellow flowers, about 4 cm across, are produced in terminal panicles 30-45 cm long. The pods are 8-10 cm long and 2.5 cm broad and contain 1-5 flat, yellowish, hard seeds. In Asia, the trees are sometimes grown for shade in coffee plantations and the bark yields a yellow-brown dye which is used in the batik industry. PILIOSTIGMA Three species of trees or shrubs, one species occuring in the Northern Territory. LEAVES: Bilobed. FLOWERS: In racemes, separate male and female flowers. Calyx lobed or dentate in the upper half. Petals 5. Male flowers with 10 perfect stamens; filaments free; anthers broad. Female flower ovary on a free stipe; style thick, not well-developed; stigma large, peltate; staminodes 10, minute. FRUIT: Pod large, strap-shaped, indehiscent. Seeds embedded in pulp. Piliostigma malabathricum Small tree growing on rocky slopes. Leaves wider than long, 3.5-12 cm by 5-16 cm, bilobed to a quarter of their length; glabrous above, hairy and dull glaucous beneath. Flowers pale yellow, racemes 2-5 cm long; calyx 15-18 mm long, densely hairy; petals 12-20 mm long, dorsally hairy. Male flowers with 10 stamens and a linear rudimentary pistil. Female flowers with 10 minute staminodes; ovary borne on a free stalk, densely hairy; stigma broad, lobed. Pod linear, often curved, rather thick, 17.5-35 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide; 10-30 albuminous seeds. LYSIPHYLLUM Seven species of small trees, shrubs and climbers with one species occuring in the Northern Territory. LEAVES: Two free leaflets. FLOWERS: In corymbose racemes. Receptacle narrow, tubular. Calyx lobed from the receptacle; sepals coherent in lobes. Fertile stamens 10: anthers elliptic. Ovary stipe connate with wall of receptacle; style slender; stigma peltate. FRUIT: Indehiscent pod. Lysiphyllum cunninghamii A tree to about 7m high, growing in clayey soil on open plains or sandy soil near rocky slopes. The leaflets are 2-4 cm long and more than half as broad, with 5-7 fine veins. Flowers red, velvety; petals 5, somewhat unequal, about 1.5 cm long. Stamens 10, longer than the petals. Ovary with 8-10 ovules; stigma large. Pod very flat and thin, about 15 cm long and 5 cm broad or shorter, according to the number of seeds ripened. TAMARINDUS A single tropical species, T. indicus A native of Africa and Asia, it is an historically recent introduction to the north Australian coast (probably by the Macassans), where it has become established but not widespread. A large, hard-wooded tree with a spreading crown. * @@@ 35 @@@ September, 1976 * AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 371—Vol. 8 ERYTHROPHLEUM 17 species of trees occuring in the tropical parts of Africa and Asia with a single species in Australia. LEAVES: Bipinnate. FLOWERS: Small, almost sessile in long cylindrical spikes forming a terminal panicle. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, small, very slightly imbricate. Stamens 10, longer than the petals. Ovary stipitate, with several ovules. FRUIT: An oblong pod, flat, coriaceous and 2-valved. Seeds ovate, compressed. Erythrophleum chlorostachys A tree sometimes growing to 12 m high but usually smaller, it is found in open eucalypt forests, woodlands and monsoon forests. The bark is dark grey to almost black and rough; the wood is very hard, hence the common name, lIronwood Tree. The broad leaflets are arranged alternately and are 2.5-5 cm long. The cream flowers are produced densely in spikes 2.5-8 cm long. The flat pods are 10-15 cm long and 2.5-4 cm broad. All parts of this tree are poisonous and many stock fatalities have occured after animals have eaten as little as 50 g of the plant. LABICHEA Eight species of shrubs and subshrubs confined to the Australian continent with one species in the Northern Territory. LEAVES: Unequally pinnate; or digitate with 3 or 5 leaflets; or reduced to a single terminal leaflet. FLOWERS: Few together in short loose axillary racemes. Sepals 4 or 5, much imbricated, somewhat unequal. Petals spreading, as many as the sepals, nearly equal. Stamens 2, filaments very short, anthers oblong-linear. Ovary sessile or shortly stipitate, with 2 or rarely 3 ovules. FRUIT: Oblong or lanceolate, flat pod. Seeds obovate or oblong with a hard, shining coat. Labichea nitida A rigid shrub with divaricate, slightly pubescent branches growing in rocky situations. Leaflets, usually 5, pungent pointed, the central one 1.5-3 cm long, the lateral ones smaller. The yellow flowers have 5 sepals and § petals; the ovary has 3 ovules. THE GENUS LABICHEA These shrubs are particularly easy to grow. Will readers provide detaiis of the following shrubs? Characteristics of the genus are given in the key to the whole family on page 362. Labichea cassioides. Shrub to 2 metre, with hairy spines on stems and on leaflets of compound leaves. Labichea eremaea. Low, rigid shrub—colour plate on page 372. Labichea lanceolata. A shrub to 12 metres—colour plate on page 372. Labichea punctata. A beautiful shrub shown in colour on page 373. Labichea teretifolia. A densely branched shrub to one metre. Labichea ?...?..? We are missing names and details of two species. EDITOR’'S NOTE: | hope the author and readers will excuse me for Including the above genera out of alphabetical sequence. One reason is to get the description of Peltophorum to colncide with a colour page position. Another is to draw attention to Erythrophleum and a request for someone to obtain colour slides of this tree and a flower close-up. | hope competent photographers will assist with slides of northern and ralnforest flora. | was able to obtaln slides of three western specles of Labichea as shown over the page. @@@ 36 @@@ Page 372—Vol. 8 September, 1976 Photography by F. W. Humphreys Captlon by Magda Wittwer LEFT: Labichea lanceolata grows in the Darling Ranges, in the Irwin and Avon Districts and over to Ravensthorpe and to Mt. Rugged. To about 1.20 m high, the shrub has pungent pointed fresh green leaves. The yellow flowers are marked with a broad burgundy red spot at the throat. It grows well in the Kings Park sands. RIGHT: Labichea eremaea. A beautiful shrub when in flower. The leaves are needle-like and very sharp. The shrub, to 80 cm, is much branched and dense. It occurs N.E. of Geraldton in the Yuna Reserve on sandy loams and is also found further east. It does not do well in Perth in cultivation. @@@ 37 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 373—Vol. Photography by E. C LABICHEA PUNCTATA A compact undershrub, to 45 cm, it grows on the Darling Range In gravelly solls In the lrwin District and further south. The five-petalled flowers are a pure yellow. The leaves are simple without prominent points. It grows well In Klngs Park but Is more successful In heavlier solls. @@@ 38 @@@ Page 374—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 NORTH QUEENSLAND CAESALPINIACEAE C.S.I.LR.O., Division of Forest Research, Atherton, QId These notes are based on a limited collection of specimens held in the herbarium of the Queensland Regional Station of the Division of Forest Research. Some Caesalpiniaceae that occur in North Queensland. These plants are more adequately described by other authors in this issue and the reference to these will be brief. CASSIA—Northern Species: Cassia absus L. Herb 40 cms high collected in Irvinebank, Mt Molloy and Hodgkinson River areas. Cassia brewsteri F. Muell. Recorded from open forest as a small tree to 8 m high near Sarina-Marlborough road and to the west of Townsville. Cassia magnifolia F. Muell. Collections from Georgetown, Mungana and Chillagoe areas. Shrub up to 5 ft high with heads of bright yellow flowers each about 3 cms across. Cassia mimosoides L. Collections from Cairns, Atherton Tablelands and adjacent areas. Generally an erect herb to 1 m high with bright yellow flowers. Cassia planitiicola Domin. Shrub 2 m high in savanna along Gilbert River near Georgetown. Cassia pumila Lam. Small herb to 30 cms high with yellow flowers found near Mt Garnet and on the Lappa Range. Cassia queenslandica C. T. White. Medium sized tree usually found on rainforest margins between Cairns and Cooktown. Cassia retusa Vogel. Collected in shrubland situations from near Mackay, Charters Towers and Mt Garnet. Generally 2 to 3 m high with yellow flowers. Cassia timorensis DC. Small tree to 3 m with pale to golden yellow flowers. Collected near the southern shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Cassia venusta F. Muell. Shrub to 2 m high collected near the southern shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Colour plate on page 384. All these Cassia species are native, at least in the sense that they were growing in Australia at the time Europeans first arrived. CYNOMETRA IRIPA Kostel: A small tree or scrambler from the upper mangrove edge. Specimen from the Cairns, Mossman and Weipa areas. There is quite a good description in Australian Plants, Issue No. 49, page 227, dealing with plants of the mangroves, Where it is incorrectly called C. ramiflora. CAESALPINIA: Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. Heavily armed scrambling shrub generally near beaches from Cape Hillsborough across the north of Australia and extending into S.E. Asia. Caesalpinia brachycarpum (Benth.) Rattink (see Rattink in Reinwardtia 9:53). One record of this prickly scrambler from near Mossman. Caesalpinia scortechinii (F. Muell.) Hatlink. A prickly canopy level vine in rainforest at lron Range. Yellow flowers. Caesalpinia cristal. A small tree or scrambler in the Cairns-North Johnstone area. Stem and petioles armed. Yellow flowers. MEZONEVRON: Mezonevron robustum C. T. White. Prickly vine in rainforest near Malanda. Its red seeds were used by aborigines for beads. @@@ 39 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 375—Vol. 8 INTSIA BUUUGA (Colebr.) O.K.: Formerly known as Afzelia australis Benth. Often a large tree near the sea. Collected near Mossman, Gove and on the Torres Strait Islands. Extending into S.E. Asia. MANILTOA SCHEFFERI K. Sch.: A medium sized tree in rainforest at Iron -Range. Also known from New Guinea, the Solomons and some of the Indonesian Islands. Flowers white to 2 cms across. Leaves in the pendulous new growth flush light pink to cream. A very attractive species. PHOTOGRAPHERS It you are a competent photographer then please make a special effort for me (Editor) this season. If you will write to me first, enclosing samples of your work, | will pay in advance for your film. We desperately need colour slides of the following:— Prostanthera—Mint bushes. We are finalising a book on these lovely plants by George Althofer. We desperately need good colour slides or prints of all species. | am hoping the respect for this very fine gentleman will stir some of you on to extra special efforts this season to photograph every species you can find. Grevillea—We need good slides of all species, especially the Poorinda and Clearview hybrids. Everlastings—Helipterum and Helichrysum. We are finalising a book on these fascinating plants. Please help with slides. Rain Forest Flora—With your help we are hoping for a colour study of these interesting plants. There must be many Queensland readers who can help. Malvaceae—Hibiscus-like flowers. Help us prepare a beautiful issue on these by taking photographs for us. Rutaceae—especially Eriostemon and Phebalium. There must be many competent photographers who can help! THE GENUS PETALOSTYLIS by Fred Lullfitz These plants like an open sunny position. In spite of their heavy seeding habits they will never be a problem. They have hard seeds which need soaking to germinate. Warm water overnight will set them off and the time to plant is spring. There are only two species recorded for this genus. Petalostylis millefolium is a semi-prostrate shrub with finer foliage than the plant shown in colour on the next page, as indicated by the name. It carries many flowers over a long period and is well worth a trial in your garden. It is found naturally on the red sands of the desert and semi-desert areas of Comet Vale. It does not perform well on the Perth sands but grows well on the heavier soils of the Darling Ranges. However, it does not live long, probably because of the higher rainfall. @@@ 40 @@@ Page 376—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 Petalostylis labicheoides, as the name implies, has flowers like the Labichea. They are Cassia-like, usually with a pink throat, and have a long flowering season. The leaves are a fresh green, pinnate and attractive when not in flower. It is a shrub to 12 metres high and 2 metres diameter. It does well in the yellow sand of metropolitan Perth. Photography by H. A. Morrison PETALOSTYLIS LABICHEOIDES Petalostylis have five petals, of which not all are equal. The leaves have a terminal leaflet. The distinctive feature of these plants is the flattened stigma of the flower. @@@ 41 @@@ September, 1976 _ AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 377—Vol. 8 Photography by O. Hockings (top) and H. A. Morrison (bottom) Cassia glutinosa—Section Psilorhegma The only Australlan specles of Cassia with sticky leaves; thls Is usually enough to ldentify It. The leaves are shiny and green, while those of Cassia pruinosa, a very slmllar plant, have white and powdery surfaces. Hybrlds are known between these two specles. Leaflet shape In C. glutinosa resembles that of C. chatelainiana shown In colour on page 343, but there are no stalked glands. @@@ 42 @@@ Page 378—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 CASSIA IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA Notes on distribution and cultivation in South Australia by T. R. N. Lothian, Director, Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia Species found in South Australia: C. artemisioides (“Silver” or “Dense Cassia” and ‘“Puntee”). Principally in the northern and western sections of the State — Tarcoola, Nullarbor, Mt. Parry, west of Leigh Creek, and the Birksgate Range in the far north. C. desolata v. planipes. In the north-eastern section of the State, particularly from Cordillo Downs and Inamincka. C. glutinosa. This is limited to the far north-west of the State at Mt. Davies in the Tomkinson Range. See colour plate on page 377. C. helmsii. Found principally in the northern arid regions around Lake Eyre, in the Everard Ranges and Mount Lyndhurst. Colour plate, page 345. C. nemophila. This is extremely wide-spread and Symon in his treatment of genus in the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia (1966) lists four varieties as follows: v. nemophila: Blinman, Ooldea Siding, Gawler and Winulta. v. platypoda: Ooldea, Emu Field and between Lakes Everard and Gairdner. v. zygophylla: Cordillo Downs, Pedirka (north-east of Lake Eyre) and the Frome. v. coriacea: Enfield, which is a suburb to the north of Adelaide, Kimba, Koonamore and Mt. Lyndhurst. C. oligophylla. Principally through the north-east of the State (Lake Eyre, Mt. Lyndhurst), but also to the west on Emu Field 300 miles north-west of Woomera. See colour plate, page 344. Cassia planitiicola (‘“Yellow Pea” and ‘“Arsenic Bush”. This is recorded from the arid regions of the State and collections have been made in the Everard Ranges (north-west), Wantapilla Swamp, Pernalty Station near Port Augusta, and west of Lake Eyre. C. phyllodinea (*‘Silver Cassia”). Comparatively wide-spread from the head of Spencers Gulf through Mt. Lyndhurst to Cordillo Downs, also Evelyn Downs Station. C. pleurocarpa v. pleurocarpa. This is wide-spread throughout the northern and western areas of South Australia with specimens being recorded from Coopers Creek, Cordillo Downs, south-east of Kingoonya (between Lake Everard and Lake Gairdner), and SW of Musgrave Ranges. Plate, page 352. C. pruinosa. Mt. Lyndhurst, Mt. Distance, Pedirka. C. sturtii. Wide-spread through many regions and specimens have been recorded from Chambers Gorge, Mt. Lyndhurst, the Flinders Ranges and Arkaringa. See colour plate and comments on page 340. CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS Because most of the species come from arid regions, although they will tolerate some frost, providing the soil and conditions generally are dry, they normally require an extremely warm well-drained position. Of the species listed, C. nemophila and its varieties will tolerate winter rainfall. The others, however, will last for a few years under winter rainfall regime but ultimately collapse. Also, little watering is required in the summer months and this is usually more lethal to the abovementioned species than winter rainfall. This group of Cassias must therefore be separated from any collection of Australian plants unless the whole group is treated as arid area plants, i.e. give a little water at very infrequent intervals. @@@ 43 @@@ September, 1976 . AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE Page 379—Vol. 8 SPRING-TO-AUTUMN GOLD A Serles for the Young In Splrit by NURI MASS When Cassias first appeared on earth they lived only in the hot, moist tropics. But plants don’t usually ‘“stay put” any more than humans do. In their quiet, gradual way they venture out in this and that direction, exploring, getting the feel of different environments—and often liking these strange new places so much that they become permanent settlers there, as though they had never lived anywhere else. So perhaps it isn’t as odd as it might seem that Cassias can now be found growing happily not only in the tropics but also in dry, almost desert- like parts, and even in cooler ones, although as yet they haven’t ventured as far south as Tasmania. Perhaps they need another few centuries for that. And of course, as they've moved around from moist to dry and from hot to cool places, they have had to change themselves in several important ways, otherwise they’d never have been able to survive. Indeed, this is always the way with plants—so different from humans, who can live quite comfortably in a cold country today and in a hot one tomorrow merely by changing their clothes. Way up in tropical Queensland there are luxurious, tall-tree Cassias, often with hanging clusters of golden or reddish—and sometimes beautifully fragrant blooms. In cooler, or in drier places, one would never see such a thing—rather, Cassias in all shapes and sizes of shrubs: upright, straggly. sprawling, thin, flat-topped, rounded, sometimes really large, and other times so small as to look more like herbs. Again, several of the Cassias that moved into arid country found that they could live there only by dispensing with their leaves and growing false ones (or phyllodes) instead. This is because plants normally lose a great deal of moisture out into the atmosphere through tiny pores on the undersides of their leaves. So, in hot dry places by cutting down on their leaves and flattening out some of their stems to /ook like leaves instead, they cleverly save themselves from dying of thirst. Many other Australian plants do this same thing, including some of our Wattles. And Wattles happen to be extremely close relatives of Cassias— just as all the Pea-plants are. At first glance, and looking only at their flowers, you might never guess that these three large groups of plants were related at all. But then you notice that all of them have pods or legumes for seed-boxes. Also, they can all produce special little nodules on their roots, which greatly enrich the soil by adding nitrogen to it. And their flower parts tend to come to fives and tens. And so on. Yet, on the other hand, nobody could ever mistake a Cassia flower for that of a Wattle or a Pea-plant, for its five roundish petals are always arranged in a sort of goblet shape, giving it quite a “blossomy” look—except for the fact that we usually think of blossoms as white or pink. whilst Cassias are always a lovely shade of yellow, bright and sunshiny. Then, if you look more closely at a Cassia flower, you notice something rather odd about its stamens. There are ten of these, but they come in different lengths—and a few of them, for some strange reason, don’t produce polien. So, since pollen is the main reason for a stamen’s existence, these ones without pollen are known as make-believe stamens (or staminodes). But, apart from its beautiful golden-yellow colour, perhaps the most noticeable thing about a typical Cassia flower is the large green hook curving out from its centre. This, of course, is its pistil and seed-bearer. which will @@@ 44 @@@ I T e— Page 380—Vol. 8 AUSThALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 soon be growing much larger into a long brown pod, as the seeds inside it ripen. Altogether, then, there could be no mistaking a Cassia plant when it is out in flower. But what about in winter-time, when it isn't? Could we always recognise it by its leaves? That might be a bit harder, for the leaves of Cassias differ very much indeed from species to species. They can be large and flat, or divided into leaflets. They are sometimes smooth and other times slightly hairy or actually woolly. And, of course, there are those cases where they aren’t leaves at all, but phyllodes. Cassis, by reason of their beauty alone, are real treasures on the face of our earth. But as well as being lovely to look at, numbers of them also have medicinal value, mainly in their pods or leaves. Senna, for instance, comes from the leaves of a species native to South Africa (C. lanceolata). From spring to autumn, year by year, There’s magic to behold, When Cassias decorate their plants With clustered, flowering gold. SOME W.A. CASSIA — by Fred Lullfitz Cassia are beautiful shrubs, ideal for gardens in warmer climates.” The showy foliage will grace any garden when they are not in flower. In flower, the golden-yellow blooms, sometimes borne in terminal spikes and sometimes in clusters, often cover the bush. Coming up from Perth to the north-west (I am living at Broome), the first notable Cassia is C. pleurocarpa. This is a dense, dark green-foliaged, large shrub to 3 metres high which, after a mediocre display of yellow flowers, carries a large crop of dark brown rattling pods for quite a while. This one is worthy of garden space for the foliage and for the pods. In the Wittercom area, going towards Mt. Bruce, there is what appears to be a dwarf form of C. pleurocarpa, about %2 metre tall with nice yellow flowers and the same type of foliage. This is a good plant. From Carnarvon, north almost to Port Hedland, is the round or hemi- spherical shrub known to me as Cassia oligophylla var. oligophylla. A very handsome, dense shrub. The flowers are not bad but the heavy crop of pods which it bears for some months, changing from green to yellow and then to light brown, puts it high on the list. Cassia helmsii is similar. Then there are three species that confuse me. One | know as Cassia laverssenii. As you will see on pages 347 and 377, this is possibly a hybrid including C. pruinosa and C. glutinosa, so now | see why | have been con- fused. Another is C. pruinosa with its distinct, almost white foliage. Cassia artemesioides, with its very slender leaflets, is outstanding. It grows in the Pilbara. Down in the Carnarvon inland is a Cassia | think is C. nemophila. A plant in cultivation in a house garden was about four years old and 3 metres tall. The householder asked my expert advice on when to prune it. | said about six weeks after flowering. Amid loud guffaws, he told me it had not stopped flowering for two years. He now has a hedge of it. Cassia venusta is one of the nicest Cassia in the north-west. It grows almost always in the sandy river beds and makes an attractive shrub up to 1-3 metres. | have seen the candles or spikes of delicate lime-yellow buds persist up to ¥2 metre. One in cultivation on a rocky hillside is 3 metres tall. At Telfer, a new mining town about 150 miles east of Port Hedland, in the so-called desert, is Cassia oligophylla with very polished foliage. In the wild it is straggly, but in cultivation is most attractive. Cassia notabilis, of course — the cockroach bush — is most attractive when in pod. A low shrub %2 metre tall with a flat top, carries a heavy crop. A form here in Broome is coarser looking than the Pilbara form. @@@ 45 @@@ September, 1976 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—NURSERYMEN —>——~1 Page 381—Vol. 8 WE NEED YOUR HELP We are trylng to unravel and prepare for reglistratlon, the extenslve range of ‘Poorinda’ and ‘“‘Clearview” cultlvars. Grevillea cultlvars In particular, though the others are needed also. Whlle they are In flower, wlll growers and nurserymen send fresh flowering specimens they are growing to The Secretary. Australlan Cultlvar Reglstration Authorlty, Canberra Botanic Gardens. Photographers — please get out those cameras thls season and send slides or photo- graphs to The Editor, Australlan Plants. ERICIFOLIA NATIVE PLANT NURSERY 5 Game Street, Blackburn, Vic. 3130 Telephone 878-3889 Open 9-5.30 Dally. Closed Wed. only. NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Extenslve range of natlve plants, Includ- Ing many rare or difficult to obtain specles. Natlve bird feeders avallable. Mt. Martha Shopping Centre, Mornington Penlnsula, Victorla. Phone Mt. Martha (STD 059) 74-1792 weekdays. (Open weekends only.) Nursery Austraflora W. & J. MOLYNEAUX NURSERIES PT¥.LTD., BELFAST ROAD, MONTROSE, VIC. 3765 The largest range In Australla from which to select. Mall orders within Australia and Overseas. Retall only Open 9-5.30 Mon.-Sat.; 12-5.30 Sun durlng spring and autumn. Agency In Canberra, A.C.T. 1975 catalogue — 60c at Nursery, $1.00 posted. ALEXANDER PLANT FARM (Doug Twaits, Prop.) 2 Winlfred Street, ESSENDON, VIC. 3040 Phone: 379-5163 EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN Specialising In Australian Native Plants Greenbriar Drive-In Nursery AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS Large and Varled Selection 195-7 MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD, BRIAR HILL, VIC. 3088 Phone: 43-1468 — Open Weekends Nindethana Native Plant Seeds By Packet, Ounce or Pound Large selectlon. Send for free list. NINDETHANA Box 129, Wellington, N.S.W. 2820 MICHIE'S KENTLYN NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Specialising in Australlan Plants Beth & Bob Michle Invite you to call 96c George's Rlver Road, Kentlyn, 2560 Phone: Campbelltown 25-1583 Closed Tuesday and Wednesday only BELBRA NURSERY In the heart of the Gramplans LARGE RANGE OF AUSTRALIAN NATIVES Closed Wednesday only BOX 12, HALL'S GAP, VIC. 3381 NAROOMA NATIVE NURSERY (H. & N. RYAN, Proprietors) 15 TILBA STREET, NAROOMA, N.S.W. 2546 — Phone 132 Good varlety of natlve plants Catalogue avallable 10 cents WIRRIMBIRRA +tume Highway, between Tahmoor and Bargo, N.S.W AUSTRALIAN PLANTS wide Range — Phone: Bargo 84-1112 OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK CHIVERS’ NATIVE PLANT NURSERY 7?6 Cowper Road, Black Forest, S.A 035 — Phone: 93-7808 Open April-May Catalogue avallable — Send 18c stamp No Interstate Orders — COLLECTORS N URSER' ES 2l Australis NATIVE PLANT SPECIALIST KEVIN REED Cnr BELLEVUE CRES and SEAFORD RD SEAFORD \/|c. 3198 Huge selection from ground cover to trees, rare and the common, slzes large or small Open Saturday and Sunday (Closed Mon. and Tues.) PRESERVATION BY CULTIVATION FLORALANDS KARIONG, vla GOSFORD, N.S.W. 2250 — Prop. Brlan & Lyn Parry A Iarge variety of lhe most popular native plants at nursery PHONE: Gosford 25-1142 Closed Tuesdays Send self-addressed envelope for plant list Clearview Nursery—W. Cane, Box 19, Maffra, Victorla, 3860. Speclallst In developed plants @@@ 46 @@@ Page 382—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—NURSERYMEN WHALAN'’S NURSERIES 175 GRINSELL STREET, KOTARA, 2288. Phone: Newcastle 57-1225 Situated right next to the famous Blackbutt Reserve In Newcastle All types of natlve plants, advanced and small, Boronla, Calllstemon, Melaleucas, Dampleril, Hypocalyma, and numerous others. Many new and exclting types WHALAN'S NURSERIES — KOTARA Lakkari Native Plant Nursery Russell & Sharon Costin Wide range of all common varletles, many Interesting and hard-to-get plants, new Introductions from North Queens- land and other tropical areas. 477 REDLAND BAY ROAD, CAPALBA, QLD. 4157 — 206-4119 (Closed Thursdays) PARSONS NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Trees, Shrubs, Ground Cover, Climbers Speclallsing In Grevllleas Open Thur.,, Frl., Sat., 9-5; Sun. 8-1 Warrandyte Road, Research, Vic. 3095 BUSHFLORA 46 Swan Street, Eltham, Vic. 3095 Wide range of well-grown plants INSPECTION INVITED Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs., Frl., Sat. Sunday, 1-5 p.m. AUSTRALIAN PLANTS CENTRE (John & Joan Barton) Large varlety of natlves. Speclallsing In rockery plants. Retail only — No mail orders Plne Ridge Rd., Coombabah, Qld. 4215 Phone Gold Coast 37-1227 September, 1976 Including Crowea, Correa, Erlostemon, Closed Mondays (except Pub. Hols.) DEANES ORCHID NURSERY Specialising In Australian Natlve Orchlds Please send for descriptlve lIst. Plants sent anywhere. Nursery open every weekend — Weekdays phone 86-3446 157 BEECROFT ROAD, BEECROFT, N.S.W. 2119 A | FOREsT & NATIVE ik NURSERY (02) 450-1785 NO MAIL ORDERS 9 Namba Road, Duffy’'s Forest, N.S.W. (beslde Waratah Park, via Terrey Hills) MAGAZINES, BOOKS, BROCHURES, PRICE LISTS, CATALOGUES, OFFICE STATIONERY, LETTERHEADS, INVOICES, STATEMENTS, ENVELOPES, BUSINESS CARDS Consistent quality and unbeatable service together with reasonable costs remove most of the problems confronting people purchasing printing at . . . SURREY BEATTY & SONS 43 RICKARD ROAD, CHIPPING NORTON, N.S.W. 2170 Telephone: (STD 02) 602-7404, 602-3126 @@@ 47 @@@ September, 1976 " AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—OTHER PUBLICATIONS Page 383—Vol. 8 PAST ISSUES OF “AUSTRALIAN PLANTS AVAILABLE Because of the vast wealth of our flora there Is very little repetition. VOLUME No. 1. Issues 1-12 — to be reprinted In 1978. Watch for announcements. VOLUME No. 2. Issues 13-20, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00 postage, Including ““A Descriptive Catalogue of Western Australlan Plants’. VOLUME No. 3. Issues 21-28, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00 postage, Including also ‘“‘Catalogue of Cultlvated Australlan Native Plants” valued at $6.00. VO E No. 4. Issues 29-36, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00 postage, Inciuding ‘““Western Australlan Plants for Horticulture—Part 1" valued at $6.00. VOLUME No. 5. Issues 37-44, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00 postage, Including ““The Language of Botany'’, a valuable reference to words and terms. VOLUME No. 6. Issues 45-52, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00 postage, Including ““Western Australlan Plants for Hortlculture—Part 11”" valued at $6.0 VOLUME No. 7. Issues 53-60, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 p|us $1.00 postage, Including ““North Australlan Plants” valued at $6.00 ““Australlan Plants’” Is produced as a continulng serles, each Issue adding to the Infor- matlon recorded over the past Issues. The most valuable and complete reference. OTHER BOOKS OF THE SOCIETY West Australian Plants for Horticulture. Parts 1 & 2, each avallable at $6.00 plus 80c postage from the Editor. On the right-hand pages of these books there Is a full colour plate of a W.A. wlldflower and on the page opposite Is a description of this plant together with another plant or plants from the same genus. The descriptions are clear and In simple terms wlth a speclal sectlon on propagation and hortlculture treatment and potential. Part 2 most recently published carrles 42 new colour plates. WEST AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—A Descriptive Catalogue. Price $6.00 plus 80c postage. The only complete reference to the flora of Western Australla. AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS ORCHIDS, by A. W. Dockrill. Price $24.00 plus $2.00 postage. A magnlficent large book. The only complete reference to all Australla’s eplphytic orchids Each plant Is fully described botanically followed by a descriptlon for the layman and each has a large detalled line drawlng. BINDERS FOR ISSUES OF “AUSTRALIAN PLANTS”. Price $3.00 plus 60c postage. Good quallty D-ring binders with gold lettering on the spine. At the moment avallable only with Vol. 9 or without a number on the spine. NORTH AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—1, by Jenny Harmer. Price $6.00 plus 80c postage. This Is the first book giving a reasonable coverage to the flora In the North of Australle and wlll be an authorltative reference to It. There Is a reference to 380 specles. While this Is a lot of flowerlng plants It Is stlll a long way short of the Northern Australlan flora. As such It Is Part 1 of a serles and describes those plants of hortlcultural Interest that are to be found In the Darwin area and Arnhem Land, known locally as the ‘“‘top-end’ of the territory. This book wlll be of Interest to all. On each right-hand page Is a large full colour plate of a wlldflower usually showlng the tree or shrub, and a detall of the flower. Opposite Is a descriptlon of the genus together with all other specles of the same genus occurring In th? area followed by a clear description of the plant pictured, Its distribution and economic value. LANGUAGE OF BOTANY, by C. N. Debenham. Price $3.90 plus 60c postage. A complete reference to all botanlcal terms using Australlan specles as a reference. Clearly written for the layman, It has, however, become a recommended School, College and Unlverslty reference. THE SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS ""AUSTRALIAN PLANTS'" IS AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL PRESERVATION JOURNAL (A non-profit making venture, produced quarterly, dedicated to preservation by cultivation) This Journal Is published by The Publishing Sectlon on behalf of: SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—N.S.W. REGION: Presldent: Mr. W. H. Payne, 860 Henry Lawson Drlve, Plcnlc Polnt N.S.W. 2213. Secretary: Mr. Ray Page, 21 Robb Street, Revesby, N.S.W. SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—QUEENSLAND REGION Presldent: Mr. J. Smith, Roger Street, Birkdale, Qid. 4152. Secretary: Mrs. D. Brown, 79 Birley Street, off Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, Qid. 4000 SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGION (Inc.): Presldent: Mr. J. Scarvells, 19 Wakelln Terrace, O’Sulllvan Beach, S.A. 5166. Secretary: A. Peart, Box 1592, G.P.O., Adelalde, S.A. 5001. SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIAN REGION: Presldent: Mr. R. Wyatt, 7 Cedar Street, Lindisfarne, Tasmanla 7015. Secretary: Mrs, D. H. Glll, Box 1353P, G.P.O., Hobart, Tasmanla 7001. SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—VICTORIAN REGION: President: Mr. D. B. Fletcher, 247 Waverley Road, East Malvern, Victorla 3145, Secretary: (Slster) E. R. Bowman, 4 Homebush Crescent, Hawthorn East, Victorla 3123 Please do not phone or call at prlvate home—enqulrles by mall only. SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CANBERRA REGION: Presldent: Mrs. Christine Tynam, 42 Bindaga Street, Aranda, A.C.T. 2614. Secretary: Mrs. J. Benyon, P.O. Box 207, Clvic Square, A.C.T. 2608. WEST AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWER SOC. (Inc.): President: Mrs. M. Wittwer, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A. 6009. Secretary: Mrs. K. Edmonds, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A. 6009. Seed Is In very short supply—try the commerclal seedsmen, not W.A. Society. Membershlp Is open to any person who wishes to grow Australlan natlve plants. Contact the Secretary of the Soclety for your State for Information without obligation. PUBLISHING SECTION FOR SOCIETIES—Produced as a non-profit venture. Managlng Edltor: W. H. Payne, assisted by P. D. Leak; Despatch by E. Hubner, H. Jones MAIL—Address mall to the Editor, 860 Henry Lawson Drive, Plcnic Polnt, N.S.W. 2213. Please do not telephone or call at private home—enquirles by mall only. SUBSCRIPTION—Members: Apply to State Secretary above. NON-MEMBERS: You may recelve the next 4 Issues dlrect to your home by forwarding an sannual subscription of $3.00. Overseas subscription $4.20 Aust., £2.80 In English currency or $5.50 U.S, @@@ 48 @@@ Page 384—Vol. 8 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CAESALPINIACEAE September, 1976 A CASSIA OF THE TROPICAL INLAND NORTH Photography: Flower, F. W. Humphreys; branch, G. Thorpe; bush, O. Hockings CASSIA VENUSTA Surrey Beatty & Sons, Printers