Family

Fabaceae

Distribution

Known from one or two very localized populations near Kalannie in the north-central wheatbelt region of south-western W.A.

Description

Harsh, much-branched, shrub 1–2 m high. Bark dark grey, tessellated. Branchlets rigid, finely ribbed, glabrous, brownish green or pruinose at extremities. Stipules spinose, small, shallowly recurved. Phyllodes ±sessile, patent, ±narrowly oblong, flat, 8–10 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, sharply pungent, rigid, dark green, glabrous, upper margin not thickened; midrib prominent. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 2–4 (–6) mm long, glabrous, red; heads globular, 25–30-flowered, compact with the stamens scarcely exserted beyond the petals at anthesis, golden; mature buds often tinged orange. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free. Pods curved, terete, 4–5 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, coriaceous-crustaceous to sub-woody, dark red (tinged brown), glabrous, finely longitudinally nerved. Seeds longitudinal, 3–4 mm long, yellow/grey mottled brown; aril creamy white.

Phenology

Flowers June–July.

Habitat

Occurs on a low rise in shallow soil over highly weathered granite.

Specimens

W.A.: near Kalannie [precise locality information withheld for conservation reasons], B.R.Maslin 7702 (PERTH).

Notes

The taxonomic status needs to be more thoroughly assessed. It appears related to the more southerly distributed A. baxteri which differs in its lower stature, significantly thickened and nerve-like upper margin of phyllodes, broader pods and larger, non-mottled seeds. Superficially resembles A. andrewsii which is distinguished by its light grey, ±ribless branchlets, yellowish flower buds and flowering peduncles, non-mottled seeds and phyllodes with thickened and somewhat nerve-like upper margins.

FOA Reference

Flora of Australia Project

Author

B.R.Maslin