Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Occurs in the N.T. from Cobourg Peninsula to the northern part of Arnhem Land.

Description

Shrub or tree to 4 m high. Branchlets terete, sparsely to densely pubescent-cobwebbed. Phyllodes obliquely ovate-rhomboidal, asymmetrical, flat, 1.5–3.4 cm long, 9–25 mm wide, with thickened margins, with a glanduliferous acuminate and pungent apex, coriaceous, sparsely to moderately pubescent, with 3–5 prominent longitudinal nerves; minor nerves strongly reticulate; gland on margin 1.6–5 mm above pulvinus, prominent. Spikes borne singly or in pairs, 10–21 mm long, 4–5.5 mm wide, golden. Flowers 5-merous; calyx 0.5–1.1 mm long, dissected 1/3–1/2 its length, ciliolate at apices; corolla 1.1–1.8 mm long, resinous, dissected 1/3–1/2 its length, glabrous, with apices thickened, incurved and often cucullate; ovary densely pubescent. Pods linear, moniliform, ±straight, 6.5–10.5 cm long, chartaceous, pubescent. Seeds longitudinal, 5–7 mm long; funicle-aril turbinate.

Phenology

Flowers Apr.–May, July.

Habitat

Grows in sands in swampy areas near coastal rivers and streams in gorge country, or sometimes in gravelly red sand in tall open forest.

Specimens

N.T.: near Tomkinson R., Maningrida, Apr. 1972, L.Bridgen (BRI, DNA); Maningrida, Arnhem Land, C.Coleman 31 (DNA); Nabarlek, 3 Apr. 1988, R.Hinz (BRI, DNA, MEL); 12 km N [of] Three Ways, Cobourg Peninsula, D.Sivertsen 793 (DNA, PERTH).

Notes

Acacia arafurica is distinguished from A. sublanata by larger and slightly thicker phyllodes, spicate inflorescences and longer peduncles.

FOA Reference

Data derived from Flora of Australia Volumes 11A (2001), 11B (2001) and 12 (1998), products of ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia

Author

M.D.Tindale, P.G.Kodela