Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Restricted to near Mt Timbertop, north-eastern Vic. where it predominates in two locations, over an area of 12 km2. Also recorded from near the Howqua R. (c. 8 km from the main occurrence of the species) but this has not been verified by recent collections.

Description

Shrub 1–2.5 high, clonal. Branchlets normally pendulous, short-hispid, sparsely to moderately glandular. Phyllodes obliquely broad elliptic to ±circular, margins often undulate 2.7–9.5 mm long, 2.1–8.4 mm wide, mucronate, resinous, with stalked, gland-tipped hairs densest on margins and nerves and scattered on surface; 1- or 2-nerved per face with the second nerve often not prominent; gland 0.4–1.2 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 2.5–9 mm long, hispidulous or appressed to subappressed puberulous, basal bract persistent; heads globular, 12–22-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united. Pods oblong, slightly curved, 0.7–3 cm long, 1.7–3.8 mm wide, with gland-tipped hairs. Seeds not seen.

Habitat

Grows in subalpine, high-elevated environments in open forest and woodland.

Specimens

Vic.: c. 6 km SW from Mt Timbertop, M.Bartolome 255 (MEL, MELU); c. 21 km SE from Mansfield, N.G.Walsh 5139 (MEL); Howqua R., c. 3 miles [4.8 km] above bridge on Mansfield-Jamieson rd, 19 Apr. 1976, J.H.Willis (MEL).

Notes

Population genetic studies using isozyme techniques show that populations of this species are clonal, reproducing almost exclusively by root suckering, however all but two populations are genetically different. The species is seemingly a shy seeder as all pods observed to date have been without seed. See M.Bartolome et al., Austral. Syst. Bot. 15: 465-475 (2002), for further discussion.

Comprehensive information concerning this species, including a morphometric analysis involving some presumed close relatives, is provided in M.Bartolome et al. (loc. cit.).

The gland-tipped hairs on the phyllodes are distinctive and are absent from its closest relative, A. glandulicarpa which occurs further west and differs also in having non-pendulous branchlets, glabrous peduncles and generally broader pods.

FOA Reference

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

Author

J.Reid, B.R.Maslin