Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Sporadic from the Parker Ra. E to Kanandah Stn, W.A.

Description

Intricate spreading glabrous shrub 0.3–1 m high. Stipules spinose, 6–17 mm long, spreading widely. Phyllodes dimidiate, with adaxial margin conspicuously rounded with its ascendent proximal edge parallel to branchlet, 6.5–10 mm long, 4.5–7.5 mm wide, slightly undulate, pungent with 1.5–4 mm long cusp, normally green; midrib not prominent, near abaxial margin, with a second nerve ±intersecting the slightly crenulate adaxial distal margin. Inflorescences simple, 1 or 2 per axil; peduncles 8.5–12 mm long, slender; heads globular, 26–32-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free to 1/2-united, small. Pods narrowly oblong, to 45 mm long, 6.5–8 mm wide, firmly chartaceous. Seeds (slightly immature) transversely oblique, elliptic, 4.5 mm long; aril linear, curving around base of seed.

Habitat

Normally grows in rocky loam on low hills in Eucalyptus woodland.

Specimens

W.A.: Kanandah Stn, G.J.Keighery & J.J.Alford 588 (PERTH); near 375 m.p., Norseman–Coolgardie road, B.R.Maslin 2430 (CANB, K, MEL, NY, PERTH); Parker Ra., K.Newbey 9615 (PERTH).

Notes

Acacia scalena is also a glabrous shrub with similar phyllodes (except that they are glaucous to subglaucous and have variably crenulate-erose upper margins) and is further distinguished by its non-spinose stipules.

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