Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Occurs from near Arrino and Wyalkatchem S to Augusta and near Albany, W.A. Naturalized in the Blue Mts, at Lawson, N.S.W.

Description

Shrub, occasionally prostrate. Branchlets variably hairy, sometimes almost glabrous. Axillary spines usually 2 per node. Petiole 0.5–1.5 mm long; pinnae 3–10 mm long; pinnules 4–8 pairs, oblong to narrowly oblong, 1–5 mm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, usually dark green above and light green below, glabrous or ciliolate, with midrib and lateral nerves on lower surface often ±thickened. Peduncles usually 5–15 mm long and minutely hirsutellous to puberulous; heads usually 24–40-flowered; bracteoles acute to acuminate. Pods to 4.5 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, glabrous, infrequently pubescent.

Habitat

Grows mostly in lateritic soil in woodland, often in Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and Marri (Corymbia calophylla) woodland and forest.

Specimens

W.A.: Darling Ra., E.Pritzel 520 (AD, B, E, G-DC, K, L, M, MO, NSW, US, W, Z); 12.3 miles [19.8 km] NNE of Palgarup on South Western Hwy, M.D.Tindale 3914 (NSW, PERTH).

Notes

Branchlets on plants from Moora to Cape Naturaliste are usually pilose and hirsutellous admixed; these individuals correspond to the type of A. pulchella var. hispidula. The pilose layer is commonly absent on plants in the Cape Naturaliste-Albany area, and the indumentum is often appressed and sometimes very sparse; these individuals correspond to the type of A. pulchella. See B.R.Maslin, Nuytsia 1: 400 (1975), for full discussion. Putative hybrids occur with var. glaberrima and var. reflexa. The above description does not include the following variants. Variant 1 has peduncles 1-4 mm long, appressed-puberulous or glabrous; heads 10-20-flowered; bracteoles ±aristate. Its distribution is scattered from near Busselton to Albany, (e.g. 14 km due ESE of Margaret River, B.R.Maslin 6097, PERTH). Specimens with very short peduncles may superficially resemble A. amputata but are most readily distinguished by their green pinnules, longer glands (1-2 mm), aristate bracteoles, longitudinal and non-mottled seeds, and usually longer pods (< 15 mm long). Variant 2 has spines 1 per node; pinnules often very shallowly concave and (judging from dry specimens) glaucous to subglaucous. It occurs W of Arrino, Northam-Toodyay area and near Wyalkatchem, (e.g. 1.6 km N of Wyalkatchem towards Koorda, B.R.Maslin 157, PERTH). Variant 3 comprises prostrate plants. It occurs near Denmark, (e.g. Boat Harbour, W of Denmark, K.F.Kenneally 71/281B, PERTH).

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