Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38964).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.35323).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2014

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.35324).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2014

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38706).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38864).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38865).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

B.R. Maslin

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

B.R. Maslin

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (a.31324).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2004

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.35325).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2014

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.35326).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2014

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38707).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38708).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38709).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38866).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38867).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38868).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: Australian Plant Image Index (dig.38869).

ANBG © M. Fagg, 2015

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

B.R. Maslin

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

See illustration.

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

See illustration.

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

See illustration.

Source: WorldWideWattle ver. 2.
Published at: www.worldwidewattle.com

See illustration.

Acacia spinescens occurrence map.

Occurrence map generated via Atlas of Living Australia (https://www.ala.org.au).

Common Name

Spiny Wattle, Hard-leaf Wattle

Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Occurs from near Ceduna, S.A. to Mildura and the Northern Grampians, western Vic.

Description

Much-branched erect shrub mostly 0.5–1 m high. Branchlets rigid, terete, striated by rather prominent yellow ribs, green, grey-green or subglaucous between ribs, glabrous, spinose. Phyllodes normally absent, very rarely a few persistent at base of main stems, linear, 1–5 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, thick, curved or hooked apically. Inflorescences simple; heads usually ±sessile, globular, 3–8-flowered, 5–7 mm diam., bright golden; bracteoles sessile, concave, c. 1 mm long and almost as wide, brown. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united. Pods moniliform, curved, becoming twisted, 2–3 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, dark brown, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, oblong-elliptic; aril clavate.

Habitat

Grows in a variety of vegetation and soil types.

Specimens

S.A.: c. 12 km NE of Port Niell, Hj.Eichler 19143 (AD n.v., PERTH); c. midway between Pinnaroo & Renmark, N.Hall H80/42 (NSW, PERTH); c. 5 km W of Stenhouse Bay, J.R.Wheeler 76 (AD n.v., PERTH). Vic.: Mildura, c. 1942, F.Robbins (MEL); Miram South Dam Wildlife Res., A.C.Beauglehole 84141 (MEL n.v., PERTH).

Notes

This species is readily recognised by its rigid, striate, spinose branches which are normally devoid of phyllodes. Its flower-heads are normally sessile, but the peduncles occasionally reach 6 mm long, fide D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, Acacias S. Australia 2nd edn, 44 (1992).

The inflorescence arrangement (which is an extremely reduced 1-headed raceme), peduncular bracts, bracteoles, united sepals and carpological features suggest this species is nearest the ‘A. pravifolia group’, despite its unusual vegetative characteristics.

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

Minor edits by J.Rogers