Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Known from only two mixed Mulga populations in the vicinity of Mount Magnet, namely, ‘Watertharra’ Creek, 23 km W of Mount Magnet, and 36.5 km N of Mount Magnet. Acacia craspedocarpa occurred in both populations but A. ramulosa was recorded from neither.

Description

Multi-stemmed shrubs 2–3 m tall. Phyllodes normally narrowly oblong-elliptic or elliptic, short and relatively broad (20–40 mm long, 3–5 (–8) mm wide, l: w = 3.5–8), with very few (rarely numerous) anastomosing nerves on some phyllodes. Pods compressed to flattish, reddish brown pods, longitudinally reticulate by ±evident nerves, normally hoary between nerves but indumentum commonly obscured by resin; margins narrowly winged or sometimes rimmed or bevel-edged. Seeds rather large (7–10 x 4.5–6 mm).

Specimens

W.A.: 36.5 km N of Mount Magnet on Great Northern Highway to Cue, B.R. Maslin & J. Miller BRM 7924E (CANB, PERTH); ‘Watertharra’ Creek, 23.5 km from Mount Magnet on the road to Yalgoo, B.R. Maslin, J. Miller, L. Sweedman & B. Cole BRM 7892D (PERTH).

Notes

Putative hybrids between A. craspedocarpa and A. ramulosa var. ramulosa are noted by B.R.Maslin & J.E.Reid, Nuytsia 22: 205 (2012) and is shown in Figure 33A a (page 204) in that work.

Specimens assigned here seem most likely to represent part of an intergrade between A. craspedocarpa and A. ramulosa with phyllode size approaching that of A. craspedocarpa. The A. craspedocarpa x ramulosa (short phyllodes) putative hybrid is shown in Figure 33A a of B.R.Maslin & J.E.Reid, Nuytsia 22: 205 (2012). Other putative hybrids involving these two species, but having long phyllodes (40–70 mm), are treated separately in order to facilitate the operation of this key. Additionally, it is likely that specimens representing A. craspedocarpa x ramulosa hybrids are included under A. craspedocarpa (hybrid); these specimens are (arbitrarily) distinguished from A. craspedocarpa x ramulosa (short phyllodes) in having clearly flattened pods.

FOA Reference

Flora of Australia Project

Author

B.R.Maslin