Common Name

Cinnamon Wattle

Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Widespread but not common in eastern Australia where it is associated with the Great Dividing Range from southern Qld and central N.S.W. In Qld it occurs in the Denham and Calliope ranges, and in N.S.W. from near Mittagong and possibly also Mt Werong located c. 80 km to the NW (see under var. graveolens for discussion). The Vic. occurrence given in B.R.Maslin, Fl. Austral. 11A: 500 (2001) is based on a specimen now referred to var. uninervia.

Description

Shrub 1.5–4 m. Phyllodes (40–) 50–90 mm long, 3–7 mm wide, the punctae quite evident (observe at x10 mag.); with 1 longitudinal nerve (rarely an incipient second nerve in N.S.W. plants); lateral nerves superficially absent or very few and obscure; gland 0–1.5 mm above the pulvinus. Peduncles (2–) 4–5 mm long when in flower, to 8 mm in fruit, densely puberulous with hairs short, ±straight and closely appressed; basal peduncular bract early caducous, c. 1.5 mm long; bracteoles scarcely visible in mature buds being overtopped by flowers, spathulate, 0.7–1 mm long (±equal in length to calyx), the laminae small (less than length of the claws) and acute or occasionally short-acuminate.

Phenology

Flowers Sept. –Oct.; fruits Nov. –Dec.

Habitat

Grows in Eucalypt woodland on ridge tops and steep slopes in grey clay loam or shallow sand.

Specimens

Qld: 8.2 km by road, NE of Doolool Tops homestead, via Monto, A.R.Bean 928 (BRI n.v., NSW n.v., MEL, MEXU n.v.). N.S.W.: Fire Road 3, Chain of Ponds Crossing South, A.S.Mitchell 556 (K, CANB, P n.v., NSW, MEL).

Notes

Variety leprosa is normally distinguished from the other varieties of A. leprosa by its narrow (not above 7 mm wide), 1-nerved phyllodes. Sometimes resembles A. stictophylla but distinguished most readily by bracteole morphology and peduncle indumentum.

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