Studies in the Australian Acacias—I. General Introduction*

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Abstract
SUMMARY In the studies to which this paper is an introduction, the genus Acacia (‘Wattles’, in Australia) will be carefully revised, the aim being to establish a phylogenetic classification of the genus as it occurs in Australia. Previous classifications are regarded as too static in conception. These Studies will seek to develop a kinetic conception. Features of the genus have a bearing on the theories of carpel polymorphism (Saunders), phylloclade legume (Thompson), leaf forms (Zimmermann). The position of the genus Acacia in the Leguminosae is briefly reviewed. The existing classification of the genus is found to be usually made with foliar or other vegetative features as the first principle of division. This is regarded as unsatisfactory. The contemporary and geological distribution of the genus is briefly reviewed. The variety of the habit of the genus, the recapitulatory features of the seedlings, and the common morphological features are referred to. An attempt is made to formulate a phylogenetic classification, based on the relationships of the flower-groups in the inflorescence as the first principle of division, on the relationships of the flowers in the flower-groups as the second principle of division, and on the foliar character as the third principle of division. The theoretical considerations underlying this scheme are presented, together with some already-known phenomena of the genus which support it. The scheme explains the occurrence of difficulties experienced in placing species in existing classifications. There is given a list of species selected for examination.

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