Acacia mimica R.S.Cowan & Maslin, Nuytsia 7: 212; 211, fig. 1E–F (1990)
Dense, erect or semi-prostrate shrub 0.3–2.5 m high. Branchlets glabrous to hairy. Phyllodes patent to erect, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate-oblong, or linear to oblanceolate-linear, curved, 1.8–10.5 cm long, 2–7 mm wide, acute to obtuse, mucronulate, coriaceous to rigid-coriaceous, glaucous, glabrous except puberulous pulvinus, with numerous closely parallel, raised, irregular, occasionally anastomosing nerves and with marginal nerves prominent, yellow, especially towards apex; gland 1, basal. Inflorescences simple; heads sessile, globular, 4–7 mm diam., subtended by a row of bract-like bracteoles, 15–25-flowered, golden; bracteoles unilaterally peltate. Flowers 5-merous; sepals 3/4 to completely united. Pods suberect, linear, raised over and constricted between seeds, straight to weakly curved, 2.5–7.5 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, crustaceous, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal to oblique, oval to elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 2–3.5 mm long, glossy, mottled; funicle/aril in 2 loose loops over apex of seed.
A wide-ranging species from near Goomalling SSE to near Borden and E to near Ravensthorpe with two eastern outliers near Scaddan and Mt Burdett, c. 120 km E of Ravensthorpe, W.A.
The yellow marginal nerves on the phyllodes of A. mimica are similar to those of A. patagiata which has impressed nerves and tetramerous flowers. Acacia mimica it occurs as two varieties in southern W.A.
Phyllodes mostly 2–3 cm long, 3–8 times longer than wide. Seeds mottled, mostly light grey-brown on dark tan
var. mimica
Phyllodes mostly 4–8 cm long, 12–45 times longer than wide. Seeds mottled, mostly dark tan on pale grey-brown
var. angusta
Acacia mimica R.S.Cowan & Maslin var. mimica
Branchlets glabrous or puberulous. Phyllodes narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate-oblong, 1.8–3.5 cm long, 3–7 mm wide, 3–8 times longer than wide, mostly obtuse to rounded-obtuse. Seeds oval to elliptic, 2–3 mm long, mostly mottled light grey-brown on dark tan.
Scattered from near Goomalling SSE to near Jerramungup in south-western W.A. Grows in sand or sandy gravel on hillsides and sandplains.
The two varieties comprising A. mimica are different most obviously in their phyllode proportions. The northern, broad-phyllode form (var. mimica ) extends south and actually into the range of var. angusta which follows an east/west line from near Albany to a locality east of Esperance.
Type of accepted name
11.2 km SW of Dowerin towards Goomalling, W.A., 13 Aug. 1971, B.R.Maslin 2015 ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K, MEL, NSW, NY.
Illustration
R.S.Cowan & B.R.Maslin, loc. cit.
Representative collections
W.A.: about 29 km due NW of Bruce Rock, B.R.Maslin 2365 (K, PERTH); 16 km E of Jerramungup, K.Newbey 783 (CANB, PERTH); 7.7 km E of Goomalling, P.Roberts 112A (PERTH).
Acacia mimica var. angusta R.S.Cowan & Maslin, Nuytsia 7: 214; 211, fig. 1G–H (1990)
Branchlets glabrous or sericeous in phyllode axils. Phyllodes linear to oblanceolate-linear, 2.5–10.5 cm long, 2–4.5 mm wide, 12–45 times longer than wide, mostly acute. Seeds oblong-elliptic, 3–3.5 mm long, mottled dark tan on pale grey-brown.
Confined to, but locally common in Borden- Ravensthorpe area in south-western W.A., excluding two collections E of Ravensthorpe near Scadden and Mt Burdett. Grows commonly in clay or sandy to gravelly clay in open areas of low shrub-mallee.
Variety angusta resembles, but only superficially, A. microneura (sect. Juliflorae).
Type of accepted name
8 km S of Ravensthorpe on road to Hopetoun, W.A., 13 Aug. 1968, P.G.Wilson 7060 ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K, NSW, NY.
Illustration
R.S.Cowan & B.R.Maslin, loc. cit.
Representative collections
W.A.: 31.25 km SE of Mt Burdett, M.A.Burgman 1690 & S.McNee (K, PERTH); 4 km S of Ravensthorpe towards Hopetoun, B.R.Maslin 2562 (AD, BRI, CANB, NY, PERTH); 19 km SE of Ongerup, K.Newbey 1295 (CANB, PERTH).
(RSC)
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.
