Acacia rhigiophylla F.Muell. ex Benth.
WATTLE
Acacias of Australia
Common Name
Dagger-leaf Wattle
Family
Fabaceae
Distribution
Localised and known only from a few disjunct occurrences in S.A. and N.S.W.
Description
Shrub to 3 m high, 2 m wide, intricate, prickly, erect or prostrate. Stipules persistent, slightly curved, c. 1–2 mm long, sharp, rigid, shining, brown. Phyllodes often quadrangular, triangular or flattened, slightly contracted at base, hardly terete, (5–) 10–30 mm long, 1.2–2 mm wide, pungent, rigid, mostly dark green; nerves mostly 3–6 in all, equally prominent; gland inconspicuous, basal; pulvinus absent. Inflorescences with peduncles 0–2 (–5) mm long; spikes commonly solitary, 0.5–1 cm long, 6–15-flowered; bracteoles cupulate or almost so; margins fimbriate. Flowers 4-merous, deep yellow; sepals united. Pods linear, slightly constricted between seeds, markedly curved or coiled, to 5.5 cm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, strongly nerved longitudinally. Seeds elliptic, 3–4 mm long; funicle folded 3 or 4 times; aril turbinate.
Phenology
Flowers Sept.–Oct.; fruits Sept. and Dec.–Jan.
Specimens
S.A.: Wild Dog Hill, 11.6 km from Kimba along the road to Iron Knob, J.D.Briggs 1045 (AD, CANB, MEL); Kinchina 5 km W of Murray Bridge, 16 Oct. 1925, J.B.Cleland s.n. (CANB); Franklyn, D.E.Symon 15077 (AD). N.S.W.: 5 miles [8 km] W of West Wyalong towards Hay, E.J.Carrol SA/65 37 (CANB); Alleena, between West Wyalong and Ardlethan, J.D.Briggs 2280 (CANB).
Notes
The affinities of A. rhigiophylla are not clear but its closest relative, at least superficially, appears to be A. verticillata. It differs from that species by having phyllodes alternately disposed rather than in whorls or fascicles and in its very short peduncles.
FOA Reference
Data derived from Flora of Australia Volumes 11A (2001), 11B (2001) and 12 (1998), products of ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia
Author
A.B.Court
Minor edits by B.R.Maslin & J.Reid
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