Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Scattered from near Kununoppin S to the Hamersley R. near Ravensthorpe and E to near Mt Ridley N of Esperance, south-western W.A.

Description

Dense spreading or low-domed resinous shrub 0.2–0.5 m high with sometimes arching branches. Branchlet extremities with minute reddish resin hairs. Phyllodes obliquely ovate to obliquely elliptic or oblong-elliptic, infrequently orbicular, 2–7 mm long, (1.5–) 2–4 mm wide, l:w = 1–2.5, excentrically apiculate, slightly thickened, green, minutely tuberculate at least on margins, glabrous; midrib obscure or not evident. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 3–6 mm long, glabrous, ebracteate at base; heads globular, mostly 12–16-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free, 1/4–1/3 length of petals. Pods submoniliform, rather tightly and somewhat irregularly coiled, 2.5–4.5 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, turgid, oblong, 3–4 mm long; aril folded below seed.

Habitat

Usually grows with mallee in clay.

Specimens

W.A.: 20 km NE of Mt Ridley, W.R.Archer 7129114 (PERTH); Merredin, M.Koch 3012 (MO, NSW, PERTH); c. 20 km due SW of Scaddan, B.R.Maslin 2526 (AD, PERTH).

Notes

Similar to A. rhetinocarpa (S.A.) which has a persistent basal peduncular bract, differently shaped phyllodes, partially united sepals and different pods. Phyllodes often resemble A. improcera. The resinous nature of the species, its ebracteate peduncle bases and indistinct phyllode venation suggest affinities to the ‘A. johnsonii group’ in Qld and N.S.W., but it is readily distinguished by its coiled pods and phyllode shape and size.

Specimens with ±orbicular phyllodes and downward-arching branches are rare (Lake Grace, Korrelocking–Kununoppin). They appear not to warrant formal rank.

FOA Reference

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

Author

B.R.Maslin

Minor edits by J.Rogers