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