Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Occurs from Beaufort Inlet to near Munglinup with an isolated occurrence between Newdegate and Lake King, south-western W.A.

Description

Shrub 0.4–0.6 m high, either spindly open and erect (typical variant) or dense and spreading with main branches ±prostrate (maritime variant). Branchlets puberulous to shortly villous, with hairs ±retrorse (typical variant) or patent (maritime variant). Phyllodes, peduncles and pods glabrous.

Specimens

W.A.: Fitzgerald R. Natl Park, S of Whoogarup Ra., B.R.Maslin 4058 (CANB, K, PERTH); between Lake King and Newdegate, T.E.H.Aplin 4533 (MO, NY, PERTH); 18 km E of Munglinup, B.R.Maslin 2557 (PERTH); East Mt Barren, P.G.Wilson 5455 (CANB, PERTH).

Notes

The typical variant is an openly branched shrub and has branchlet hairs ±retrorse. It occurs from East Mt Barren inland to near Munglinup with an isolated occurrence between Newdegate and Lake King, growing in mallee shrubland and also in heath on the lower slopes of mountains (T.E.H.Aplin 4533; B.R.Maslin 2557; P.G.Wilson 5455).

The maritime variant is a dense and spreading shrub with branchlet hairs patent. It occurs in coastal areas from Mid Mt Barren to Whoogarup Ra., also at Beaufort Inlet; grows in sand on cliffs and stabilised dunes in heath, also along creeks in closed scrub (B.R.Maslin 4058).

The two variants comprising this variety can generally be distinguished by a combination of their habit and branchlet indumentum and also by their ecological preferences.

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