Acacia leiophylla Benth., London J. Bot. 1: 351 (1842)
Shrub or tree to 4 m high. Branchlets somewhat flexuose, glabrous. Phyllodes falcately recurved, pulvinus 9–12 mm long, normally 10–13 cm long and 15–22 mm wide, broadest near or above middle, much-narrowed at base, thinly coriaceous, glabrous, 1-nerved per face; lateral nerves absent or few and obscure; gland not prominent, normally 0–8 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences numerous-headed racemes, sometimes in terminal panicles; raceme axes mostly 3–7 cm long, glabrous; peduncles 4–5 mm long, glabrous; heads globular, densely 26–28-flowered, bright yellow; bracteole laminae conspicuous in buds, c. 1 mm diam., brown, densely golden-fimbriolate. Flowers 5-merous; sepals c. 3/4–5/6-united. Pods linear, raised over seeds, to 12.5 cm long, 5–6 mm wide, firmly chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, oblong, 5 mm long; funicle encircling seed in a single fold, dark red-brown; aril calvate.
Occurs in coastal regions of S.A. from the Eyre Penin., near Coffin Bay, to near Mount Gambier. Grows mainly in sand or loamy sand, in open scrub associated with Mallee eucalypts.
A member of the ‘ Acacia microbotrya group’ related to A. retinodes which is distinguished especially by its short pulvinus, inconspicuous bracteoles and straighter, thinner phyllodes. It is also allied to A. alcockii and possibly hybridises with A. anceps on southern Eyre Penin., S.A., fide B.R.Maslin & D.J.E.Whibley, Nuytsia 6: 22 (1987). In the past A. leiophylla has been confounded with A. pycnantha which is readily distinguished by its globular to obloid, 40–80-flowered heads, smaller, white-fimbriolate bracteoles, short funicles which do not encircle the seeds and phyllodes with a more obvious pennivenation.
Type of accepted name
Kangaroo Is., S.A., W.Baxter (sphalm. ‘King George’s Sound, Bagster’); lecto: K, fide B.R.Maslin & D.J.E.Whibley, Nuytsia 2: 163 (1977); isolecto: PERTH.
Synonymy
Acacia retinodes var. oraria J.M.Black ex Eardley, in J.M.Black, Fl. S. Australia 2nd edn, 3: 533 (1952), nom. inval. (no Latin description or diagnosis provided).
Acacia retinodes var. oraria J.M.Black ex Eardley, in J.M.Black, Fl. S. Australia 2nd edn, 4: 945 (1957). Type: Sleaford Mere, near Port Lincoln, S.A., 19 Nov. 1949, E.C.Black ; holo: AD.
Doubtful name
Acacia blomei Ohlend.: see Doubtful Names.
Illustrations
B.R.Maslin & D.J.E.Whibley, op. cit . 164; L.F.Costermans, Native Trees & Shrubs SE Australia 316 (1981); M.Simmons, Acacias Australia 2: 179 (1988); D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, Acacias S. Australia 2nd edn, 161 (1992).
Representative collections
S.A.: 42.6 km S of southern turnoff into Keith on road to Naracoorte, N.Hall H80/91 (PERTH); 10 km SW of Port Lincoln grain silo, L.D.Williams 9705 (AD).
(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.
