Family

Fabaceae

Notes

Judging from the few, rather depauperate, specimens assigned to this variant it may possibly contain discordant elements. Only one flowering specimen has been seen and the pods (mostly dehisced) show an unusually wide range of variation in shape and size. Further flowering and fruiting material is needed to properly assess the taxonomic status of this entity.

This variant is described and illustrated by Maslin & Reid (2012: 241–243) under A. mulganeura.

Some plants of A. ayersiana (short phyllode forms), especially those from vicinity of Wiluna, may resemble plants of A. mulganeura (variant 2), but the two entities can normally be distinguished by careful examination of their branchlet resin and phyllode margins. In A. ayersiana (short phyllode forms) the branchlet resin is translucent (occasionally misinterpreted as opaque) and forms a very thin layer over the ribs (best observed on young branchlets); this resin is normally absent from the mature branchlets. In A. mulganeura (variant 2) on the other hand the resin is opaque and normally persists as a more or less thick, transversely segmented layer over the ribs on at least some mature or penultimate branchlets. The margins of young phyllodes on A. ayersiana (short phyllode forms) are normally reddish to dark brown by a distinct layer of shiny resin (this resin which becomes dull and yellow on mature phyllodes). Although the margins of young phyllodes on A. mulganeura (variant 2) are also resinous, the resin is less obvious and is dull and yellow.

The relationships between A. mulganeura (variants 1 and 2) and the typical A. mulganeura require further study – see A. mulganeura (variant 1) for discussion.

FOA Reference

Flora of Australia Project

Author

B.R.Maslin