Acacia phlebopetala Maslin, Nuytsia 2: 295 (1978)
Shrub 0.4–1 m high. Branchlet indumentum various. Phyllodes somewhat crowded, inequilateral, obdeltate to shallowly triangular with a prominent gland-bearing angle on adaxial margin, with adaxial proximal margin convex and contiguous with branchlet, 5–10 mm long, 5–11 mm wide, undulate, pungent, rigid, glabrous or puberulous; midrib near abaxial margin, a minor nerve extending from base towards the gland. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 7–12 mm long, glabrous or puberulous; heads globular, 4–6-flowered, creamy white; buds acute. Flowers 4-merous; sepals 2/3–3/4-united, the lobes broadly triangular; petals glabrous, 3–7-nerved at apices. Pods curved, often twisted, to 7 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, crustaceous, glabrous or puberulous. Seeds longitudinal, oblong to elliptic, 2.5–4 mm long, glossy, brown to black; aril terminal.
Occurs from Beaufort Inlet to near Munglinup with an isolated occurrence between Newdegate and Lake King, south-western W.A. It is most common in the Fitzgerald R. Natl Park.
Distinguished from other members of the ‘ A. biflora group’ by the following combination of characters: heads creamy white, flowers large (2.5–3 mm long) and 4–6 per head, peduncles 7–12 mm long and petals 3–7-nerved. See B.R. Maslin, loc. cit ., for further details. Rather polymorphic with two varieties recognised, the typical one comprising two variants.
Phyllodes, peduncles and pods glabrous
var. phlebopetala
Phyllodes, peduncles and pods minutely puberulous
var. pubescens
Acacia phlebopetala Maslin var. phlebopetala
Shrub 0.4–0.6 m high, either spindly, open and erect (typical variant) or dense and spreading with main branches prostrate (maritime variant). Branchlets puberulous to shortly villous, the hairs retrorse (typical variant) or patent (maritime variant). Phyllodes, peduncles and pods glabrous.
The two variants comprising this variety can generally be distinguished by a combination of their habit and branchlet indumentum and also by their ecological preferences.
The typical variant is an openly branched shrub and has branchlet hairs retrorse. It occurs from East Mt Barren inland to near Munglinup with an isolated occurrence between Newdegate and Lake King; grows in ‘Mallee’ shrubland and also in heath on the lower slopes of mountains ( T.E.H.Aplin 4533 ; B.R.Maslin 2557 ; P.G.Wilson 5455 ).
The maritime variant is a dense and spreading shrub with branchlet hairs patent. It occurs in coastal areas from Mid Mt Barren to Whoogarup Ra., also at Beaufort Inlet; grows in sand on cliffs and stabilised dunes in heath, also along creeks in closed scrub ( B.R. Maslin 4058 ).
Type of accepted name
39 km E of Ravensthorpe, W.A., 29 July 1976, M.E.Trudgen 1708 ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K, MEL, NSW, NY, PERTH.
Illustrations
B.R.Maslin, Nuytsia 2: 296, fig. 11A- E, G- N (1978).
Representative collections
W.A.: Fitzgerald R. Natl Park, S of Whoogarup Ra., B.R. Maslin 4058 (CANB, K, PERTH); between Lake King and Newdegate, T.E.H.Aplin 4533 (MO, NY, PERTH); 18 km E of Munglinup, B.R.Maslin 2557 (PERTH); East Mt Barren, P.G.Wilson 5455 (CANB, PERTH).
Acacia phlebopetala var. pubescens Maslin, Nuytsia 2: 299; 296, fig. 11F & 328, fig. 22 (1978)
Spindly open shrub to 1 m high. Branchlets densely puberulous with patent hairs. Phyllodes puberulous. Peduncles sparsely to moderately puberulous. Pods puberulous.
Known only from Whoogarup Ra. in the Fitzgerald R. Natl Park where it grows in clay along watercourses in open Mallee scrub.
Type of accepted name
Fitzgerald R. Natl Park, W side of Whoogarup Ra., W.A., 15 Dec. 1975, B.R.Maslin 4057 ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K.
Illustrations
B.R.Maslin, Nuytsia 2: 296, fig. 11F (1978).
Representative collection
W.A.: Fitzgerald R. Natl Park, western slopes of Whoogarup Ra., B.R.Maslin 3879 (MEL, 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.
