Acacia rupicola F.Muell. ex Benth.
WATTLE
Acacias of Australia
Common Name
Rock Wattle
Family
Fabaceae
Distribution
Occurs in S.A. from Eyre Peninsula to near Bordertown, and in the Grampians, Vic.
Description
Somewhat diffuse shrub 1–2.5 m high, glabrous, resinous. Branchlets prominently ribbed. Stipules seemingly absent. Phyllodes sessile, patent, narrowly triangular to linear-triangular, 5–25 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, pungent with slender cusp, rigid, green; midrib prominent; gland 0.5–2 mm above base. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 5–15 mm long; basal bracts 2; heads globular, 20–25-flowered, cream to pale yellow. Flowers 4-merous; sepals ±free to 3/4-united. Pods linear, arcuate, to 7 cm long, 3–4.5 mm wide, thinly coriaceous, finely longitudinally and openly reticulate, light brown. Seeds longitudinal, oblong to narrowly elliptic, 4.5–5.5 mm long, dark brown; aril terminal.
Habitat
Grows in woodland to open forest in rocky areas or open scrub in near-coastal areas.
Specimens
S.A.: Wirrabarra, Southern Flinders Ra., B.Copley 3685 (AD, W, Z); Blewitt’s Springs, Mt Lofty Ra., N.Gemmell 265 (AD, HBG); Southern Eyre Peninsula, Oct. 1882, Mrs.Richards (AD). Vic.: Mt Arapiles, Grampians, A.C.Beauglehole l6966 (MEL).
Notes
Acacia ulicifolia has somewhat similar phyllodes and flower-heads but it is a non-resinous shrub with 5-merous flowers and non-arillate seeds. Acacia oxycedrus and A. rhigiophylla also have similar phyllodes except that they are multinerved; moreover, these two species have spicate inflorescences.
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
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