Acacia leptophleba F.Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Austral . 2: 395 (1864); J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot . 3: 143 (1859), pro syn. sub A. aulacocarpa
Scurfy, papillose, resinous shrub, 0.9–2.5 m high, to 8 m wide. Bark smooth or slightly rough, grey. Branchlets slightly angular or flattened towards apices, light to dark brown. Phyllodes narrowly elliptic to very narrowly elliptic-linear or narrowly oblanceolate, oblique, flat, 3.5–11 cm long, 7–20 mm wide, with resin-crenulated margins, coriaceous, rigid, with 3 longitudinal, subprominent nerves indistinct towards apex (the lower nerve confluent with margin near base), the minor nerves inconspicuous, possibly with obscure minor anastomoses confused by fine longitudinal wrinkling when dry; gland 1, basal, 0.5–1.6 mm above pulvinus. Spikes 2–4.5 cm long, golden. Flowers 5-merous; calyx 0.8–1.3 mm long, dissected to 1/2–4/5, sometimes papillose; corolla 1.4–2 mm long, dissected to 1/4–2/3, glabrous; ovary villous. Pods erect, linear-oblanceolate, straight-sided, 7–11.5 cm long, 6–9.5 mm wide, woody, striate, glabrous, opening elastically from apex; margins prominent. Seeds oblique, oblong-elliptic, 6–8 mm long, black or dark brown; areole open, elongated, depressed; funicle-aril narrowly conical.
Occurs in northern Australia, mainly in the Ord and Bow R. districts and at Sturt Ck, W.A., from the Victoria R. eastwards to Montejinni and Wave Hill, N.T. Grows in sandy, often alluvial soils or in rocky skeletal soils, on calcareous sandstone, dolomite or granite, on hillsides in Eucalyptus - Heteropogon woodland or on the plains in savannah grassland with spinifex. Flowers Apr.–Sept.
There is some variation in the nervation of the phyllodes. In several specimens, much smaller, fallen pods have been collected near the plants but they may be from other species.
Type of accepted name
Sturt’s [Sturt] Creek, northern Australia, 1856, F.Mueller 97 ; holo: MEL; iso: K (photo CANB), NSW.
Illustration
J.R.Wheeler, in J.R.Wheeler (ed.) et al ., Fl. Kimberley Region 321, fig. 93D (1992).
Representative collections
W.A.: Bedford Downs, F.Lullfitz 6199 (CANB, K, NSW); Turkey Ck, 160 km N of Halls Creek, M.D.Tindale 10146, P.Munns & R.Turley (BRI, CANB, DNA, MEL, NSW, PERTH). N.T.: Limbunya, C.R.Dunlop 3517 (DNA, K, NSW); 54 km E of Top Springs, G.P.Guymer 648 (NE, NSW); Pinkerton Ra., I.V.Newman 621 (NSW).
(NSW)
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.
