Acacia rhigiophylla F.Muell. ex Benth., Linnaea 26: 611 (1855)
Dagger-leaf Wattle
Intricate, prickly, erect or prostrate shrub to 3 m high and 2 m wide. Stipules persistent, slightly curved, c. 1–2 mm long, sharp, rigid, shining, brown. Phyllodes often quadrangular, triangular or flattened, slightly contracted at base, hardly terete, (7–) 10–30 mm long, 1.2–2 mm wide, pungent, rigid, mostly dark green; the veins mostly 3–6 in all, equally prominent; gland inconspicuous, basal; pulvinus absent. Inflorescences with peduncles 1–2 mm long; spikes commonly solitary, 0.5–1 cm long, 6–15-flowered; bracteoles cupulate or almost so, the margins fimbriate. Flowers 4-merous, deep yellow; sepals untied. Pods linear, slightly constricted between seeds, markedly curved or coiled, to 5.5 cm long and 2.5 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, strongly veined longitudinally. Seeds elliptic, 3–4 mm long; funicle folded 3–4 times; aril turbinate.
Localised and known only from a few disjunct occurrences in S.A. and N.S.W. Flowers Sept.–Oct. and fruits Sept. & Dec./Jan.
The affinities of A. rhigiophylla are not clear but its closest relative, at least superficially, appears to be A. verticillata . It differs from that species by having phyllodes alternately disposed rather than in whorls or fascicles and in its very short peduncles. The species is superficially similar to A. hexaneura and A. rupicola .
Type of accepted name
South Australia, in Murray scrub, F.Mueller s.n. ; lecto: K, fide A.B.Court (to be published in Appendix to Fl. Australia vol. 11, 2001).
Illustrations
F.Mueller, Iconogr. Austral. Acacia dec.9 [pl.2] (1888); D.J.E.Whibley, Acacias S. Australia fig. 80 (1980). D.J.E.Whibley in J.P.Jessop & H.R.Toelken (eds), Fl. S. Australia 2: fig. 289A (1986); G.M.Cunningham et al. , Pl. W. New South Wales 370 (1981); M.H.Simmons, Acacias Australia 2: pl. 10 (1988); T.Tame, Acacias SE Australia 44, pl. 20 (1992); D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, Acacias S. Australia 2nd edn, fig. 96 (1992).
Representative collections
S.A.: Wild Dog Hill, 11.6 km from Kimba along the road to Iron Knob, J.D.Briggs 1045 (AD, CANB, MEL); Kinchina 5 km W of Murray Bridge, 16 Oct. 1925, J.B.Cleland s.n. (CANB); Franklyn, D.E.Symon 15077 (AD). N.S.W.: 5 miles [8 km] W of West Wyalong towards Hay, E.J.Carrol SA/65 37 (CANB); Alleena, between West Wyalong and Ardlethan, J.D.Briggs 2280 (CANB).
(ABC)
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.
