species, however, varies a good deal in respect of the size of leaves
and flowers.

R. PSEUD-ACACIA.--Common Locust, Bastard Acacia, or False Acacia. North
America, 1640. A noble-growing and handsome tree, with smooth shoots,
and stipules that become transformed into sharp, stiff spines. The
flowers are in long racemes, pure-white or slightly tinged with pink,
and with a faint pleasing odour. This species has been sub-divided into
a great number of varieties, some of which are very distinct, but the
majority are not sufficiently so to warrant special attention. The
following include the best and most popular kinds:--R. Pseud-Acacia
Decaisneana, a distinct form bearing light pinky flowers; R.
Pseud-Acacia Bessoniana, with thornless branches and a dense head of
refreshing Pea-green foliage; R. Pseud-Acacia angustifolia, with narrow
leaves; R. Pseud-Acacia aurea, a conspicuous but not very constant
golden leaved form; R. Pseud-Acacia inermis, of which there are weeping,
upright, and broad-leaved forms, has narrow leaves that are glaucous
beneath, and the characteristic spines of the species are wanting or
rarely well developed. R. Pseud-Acacia monophylla is very distinct, the
leaves being entire instead of pinnate; while R. Pseud-Acacia crispa has
curiously-curled foliage. Then there is the peculiar R. Pseud-Acacia
tortuosa, of ungainly habit; R. Pseud-Acacia umbraculifera, with a
spreading head; R. Pseud-Acacia sophoraefolia, the leaves of which
resemble those of Sophora japonica; and R. Pseud-Acacia amorphaefolia,
with very large foliage when compared with the parent tree. The above
may be taken as the most distinct and desirable forms of the False
Acacia, but there are many others, such as R. Pseud-Acacia colutoides,
R. Pseud-Acacia semperflorens, and R. Pseud-Acacia Rhederi, all more or
less distinct from the typical tree.