Acacia epacantha (Maslin) Maslin, Nuytsia 2: 359 (1979)
Dense, spreading shrub 0.3- 0.5 m high. Branchlet indumentum variable. Axillary spines 1 per node, 1- 2 cm long. Pinnae 1 pair, 1- 2 mm long, the apices acute, 0.5- 1.5 mm long and normally dark brown; petiole normally <0.5 mm long; terminal seta 1.5- 3 mm long, dark brown; pinnules 2 pairs, 6- 10 mm long, 0.7- 1.5 mm wide, revolute, green, glabrous to hirsutellous; gland on petiole at base of pinnae, sessile, minute. Inflorescences simple, situated near or above middle of axillary spine; peduncles 7- 10 mm long, appressed-puberulous to glabrous; heads globular, 23- 26-flowered, golden; bracteoles acuminate, exserted in buds. Flowers 5-merous; sepals 1/2- 3/4-united. Pods curved to circinnate, 1.5- 4 cm long, 4- 7 mm wide, shortly villous with shiny and straight or subcrisped hairs. Seeds longitudinal, oblong to circular, 2.5- 3.5 mm long.
Restricted to the Eneabba-Dandaragan area, south-western W.A. Grows in lateritic loam or clay, in heath and open Wandoo ( Eucalyptus wandoo ) woodland.
Acacia epacantha and A. fagonioides are unique members of the ‘ A. pulchella group’ in having inflorescences borne on axillary spines which commonly have the appearance of short branchlets. The long, revolute pinnules readily distinguish A. epacantha .
Type of accepted name
15 km S of Badgingarra towards Dandaragan, W.A., 3 Aug. 1973, B.R.Maslin 3247 ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K, MEL, NSW, NY, PERTH.
Synonymy
Acacia lasiocarpa var. epacantha Maslin, Nuytsia 1: 416; 413, fig. 6I- J & 485, map 4 (1975). Type: as for accepted name.
Illustrations
B.R.Maslin, loc. cit . (1975), as A. lasiocarpa var. epacantha .
Representative collections
W.A.: N of Dandaragan, C.A.Gardner 9285 (PERTH); 5 km S of Mt Lesueur, E.A.Griffin 2662 (PERTH); 15 km N of Badgingarra, P.G.Wilson 3838 (AD, BRI, PERTH).
(BRM)
The information presented here originally appeared on the WATTLE CD-ROM which was jointly published by the Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, and the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth; it was produced by CSIRO Publishing from where it is available for purchase. The WATTLE custodians are thanked for allowing us to post this information here.
