Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Common in the Ravensthorpe Ra. from Mt Short SE to the vicinity of Elverdton Mine (c. 15 km SE of Ravensthorpe), with several outlying populations about 20–30 km E and 40 km N of Ravensthorpe.

Description

Phyllodes elliptic with some tending obovate or ovate, sometimes broadly elliptic or almost circular, 1.5–3.5 cm long, (0.8–) 1–2.5 (–2.9) cm wide, with apical point ±pungent. Peduncles 1–2.5 cm long, normally single in axils of reduced phyllodes on upper portion of branchlets, sometimes a few interspersed in short racemes 5-17 mm long; heads 8–12-flowered.

Habitat

Grows in a variety of habitats but commonly in gravelly sand, laterite or rocky clay or clayey sand, on ridgelines or moderately exposed gentle slopes, in tall dense to low open mallee scrub with a dense sclerophyllous understorey.

Specimens

W.A.: 40 km due N of Ravensthorpe, K.L.Bradby 90 (PERTH), 21.25 km S of Coujinup Hill, M.A.Burgman & S.McNee MAB 2009 (PERTH), Mt Desmond, c. 11 km S of Ravensthorpe, B.R.Maslin 2568 (K, PERTH); road to Mt Short, R.A.Saffrey 375 (AD, BRI, MEL, NY, PERTH); 4 km SE of Ravensthorpe on hill 1 km E of main road to Hopetoun, P.G.Wilson 5519 (NSW, PERTH).

Notes

Resembling A. durabilis with which it is often sympatric in the Ravensthorpe Ra., but A. durabilis is recognised by its more prominently ribbed branchlets, prominent, persistent stipules, phyllodes with a prominent gland generally closer to the base and an inflexed, less pungent tip, cream to pale yellow flower-heads, ±spirally twisted pods which do not have undulate margins and seeds with funicles that are dilated at the point of attachment to the pod.

FOA Reference

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

Author

Minor edits by J.Rogers

B.R.Maslin