Acacia acanthoclada

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Harrow wattle
Acacia acanthoclada.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. acanthoclada
Binomial name
Acacia acanthoclada
Acacia acanthocladaDistMap6.png
Occurrence data from AVH

Acacia acanthoclada, commonly known as harrow wattle, is a low, divaricate, highly branched and spinescent shrub that is endemic to Australia.

Description[]

It grows up to 2 metres high and has phyllodes which measure 0.2 to 0.6 cm long and 1 to 2 mm wide. The phyllodes are straight, narrow-cuneate, slightly notched at the apex, and feature prominent midveins. Branchlets are terete, whitish and densely pubescent, As the branch grows it becomes glabrous and terminates in a rigid spinose point. The bark is grey, white or occasionally greenish.

The golden-yellow flowerheads, on 5–15 cm long peduncles, appear at the phyllode axils. Flower parts are pentamerous, with the sepals fused into a synsepalous calyx. Flowers appear from August to October, followed by irregularly twisted, glaucous, brown seed pods which are 3 to 6 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide.

Its occurs naturally in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria and is listed as endangered under the in New South Wales.[1]

Taxonomy[]

The species was formally described in 1863 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in the third volume of his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae, based on plant material collected near .[2]

Two subspecies are recognised:

  • A. acanthoclada F.Muell. subsp. acanthoclada[3]
  • A. acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens Maslin[2][4]

Distribution[]

The species is relatively uncommon and is found scattered at several sites in isolated clumps: Buronga, Wentworth and Pooncarie districts in far south-western New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and and in Western Australia. Arumpo Station in particular is home to a stunted sample, which is threatened by overgrazing by kangaroos.

Habitat[]

This species usually grows on deep, loose, sandy soil. It inhabits undisturbed mallee areas, often on ridges and dunes, and more rarely on rock outcrops.[5]

See also[]

Associated species:

References[]

  1. ^ Kodela P.G. & G.J. Harden. "Acacia acanthoclada". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Acacia acanthoclada". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Acacia acanthoclada F.Muell. subsp. acanthoclada". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  4. ^ "Acacia acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens Maslin". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  5. ^ "Harrow Wattle - profile". threatened species. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW). Retrieved 21 March 2011.

External links[]

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