Acacia aculeatissima J.F.Macbr.
WATTLE
Acacias of Australia
Common Name
Thin-leaf Wattle, Snake Wattle
Family
Fabaceae
Distribution
Occurs in south-eastern Australia from the lower Grampians, Vic., to near Eden, N.S.W. Sometimes locally abundant.
Description
Diffuse shrub, prostrate to 0.5 m high, rarely taller. Branchlets slender, finely ribbed, variably hairy, rarely glabrous. Stipules c. 1 mm long. Phyllodes mostly patent to reflexed, slender, terete to subterete, ±quadrangular when dry, 5–12 (-20) mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, pungent with a slender, c. 1 mm long cusp, rigid, obscurely 4-nerved, variably muriculate on nerves, usually glabrous; pulvinus asymmetric. Inflorescences simple, 1–3 per axil; peduncles 5–13 mm long, slender, glabrous; basal bract c. 1 mm long; heads globular, sometimes obloid, 15–25 (–30)-flowered, pale or lemon yellow to yellow. Flowers 4-merous; sepals dissected to near base. Pods linear, biconvex, straight to shallowly arcuate, to 6 cm long, (2–) 3–4 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, glabrous or subglabrous. Seeds longitudinal, oblong, 3.5–4 mm long; aril terminal.
Habitat
Often grows in rocky areas, in Eucalyptus woodland or forest or closed heath.
Specimens
N.S.W.: Narrabarba, 24 km N of Vic. border, 7 Oct. 1954, E.F.Constable s.n. (NSW). Vic.: Grampians, A.C.Beauglehole l6445 (MEL); ‘Bald Hill’, 5 km S of Bobinawarrah East Primary School, c. 20 km due W of Myrtleford, B.R.Maslin 5968 (MEL, PERTH); Lind Natl Park, E.F.Constable 5389 (NSW, PERTH).
Notes
Plants with either hairy or glabrous phyllodes occur in the Grampians, Vic.; hairy phyllode variants are rare elsewhere. Apparently related to A. genistifolia. May be confused with A. brownii which has flowers 5-merous and phyllodes not reflexed. The phyllodes resemble those of A. acuaria (W.A.) which has 5-merous flowers, conspicuous bracteoles and strongly curved to once-coiled pods. (BRM) Minor edits by BRM
Apparently related to A. genistifolia. May be confused with A. brownii which has flowers 5-merous and phyllodes not reflexed. The phyllodes resemble those of A. acuaria (W.A.) which has 5-merous flowers, conspicuous bracteoles and strongly curved to once-coiled pods.
Plants with either hairy or glabrous phyllodes occur in the Grampians, Vic.; hairy phyllode variants are rare elsewhere.
FOA Reference
Data derived from Flora of Australia Volumes 11A (2001), 11B (2001) and 12 (1998), products of ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia
Author
Minor edits by B.R.Maslin
B.R.Maslin
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