Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Occurs mainly from Sydney (with a probable outlier to the S from near Ulladulla), N.S.W., N to near Bundaberg, Qld.

Description

Spindly glabrous shrub to 3 m high. Branchlets slender, lenticellular. Phyllodes on short stem-projections, frequently in fascicles of 2 or 3 per node on mature branchlets, rather crowded, erect to inclined, slender, ±quadrangular in section, mostly 2–6 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, pungent, somewhat rigid, 4-nerved; nerves muriculate. Inflorescences simple, mostly 1 per axil; peduncles 5–15 mm long; basal bract persistent; heads globular, 12–30-flowered, cream to pale yellow; bracteole laminae shortly acuminate. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free to 1/2-united. Pods submoniliform, to 9 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, dark brown. Seeds longitudinal, oblong, 4–6 mm long, dull, dark brown mottled yellowish, exarillate; funicle filiform.

Habitat

Grows in sand in coastal areas or on sandstone in Eucalyptus open forest.

Specimens

Qld: on Ravensbourne road, 13 km from Helidon, P.I.Forster PIF7082 (PERTH). N.S.W.: 10.9 km NW of Corindi, R.Coveny 4270 & J.Armstrong (NSW, PERTH); Rocky Ck, R.Coveny 4982 & N.Lander (NSW, PERTH).

Notes

Most readily distinguished from other members of the ‘Acacia juncifolia group’ by its short, sharply pungent phyllodes which are commonly in fascicles of 2 or 3 per node on mature branchlets. Acacia quadrilateralis is not far removed from the ‘A. ulicifolia group’.

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 B.R.Maslin and P.G.Kodela

B.R.Maslin