Acacia oxycedrus x sophorae
Erect shrubs, 1–2.5 m tall. Branchlets hairy. Stipules much-reduced or absent. Phyllodes elliptic to narrowly elliptic, narrowed to sharply or coarsely pungent points, (26–) 30–100 mm long, (3–) 4–9 mm wide; straight or shallowly recurved, hairy but can appear glabrous, longitudinal nerves 3 or more per face and widely spaced, anastomoses few or absent; gland 0–3 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences mostly simple, 1–2 (–5) per axil; spikes, golden, 25–35mm long; peduncles 1–8 mm long, hairy. Flowers 4-merous; calyx gamosepalous. Pods linear or sub-moniliform, 5–6 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, straight curved, terete to sub-terete, hairy. Seeds longitudinal, arillate.
Of scattered occurrence in southeastern Australia where it known from the lower southeast of S.A. and in Vic. from the far southwest, Western Port and Sperm Whale Head (near Bairnsdale); it is also recorded from near Woy Woy, north of Sydney and the Central Coast area, N.S.W.
This putative hybrid is distinguished from A. oxycedrus by its larger phyllodes which tend to be more tapered at their base and which possess a basal gland (although gland sometimes absent) and a (reduced) pulvinus, and stipules which are reduced or absent. From A. sophorae the hybrid is distinguished by its smaller, more rigid, sharply to coarsely pungent phyllodes and shorter pulvinus. In S.A. at least A. oxycedrus x sophorae is either rare or common in populations where both parents occur.
Note: For ease of citation the second parent of this hybrid is regarded here as A. sophorae , rather than as A. longifolia subsp. sophorae .
Representative collections
S.A.: opposite Donovans Landing, Glenelg R., 15 Jul. 1987, R.Bates s.n. (AD); Millicent, Sept. 1952, D.H.Green s.n. (AD). N.S.W.: The Loukout, Woy Woy, E.J.McBarron 17601 (NSW). Vic.: Westernport Bay, end of Bungower Rd, Sept 1970, W.Calder s.n. (MEL); Sperm Whale Head, July 1925, F.Burton s.n. (MEL); Frankston, A.Paget 271 (MEL); Kentbruck, A.C.Beauglehole 798 (MEL); Gorae West, 6 Sept. 1963, B.Fuhrer s.n. (MEL).
(BRM & MO’L)
This hybrid is noted in the Fl. Australia treatment under A. longifolia subsp. sophorae .
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.
