Acacia tolmerensis G.J.Leach, Nuytsia 9: 351; 352, fig. 1 (1994)
Glabrous shrub to 1.5 m high, subpruinose on young phyllodes, branchlets and inflorescence axes. Branchlets prominently flattened or angular towards tips. Phyllodes dimidiately narrowly elliptic, shallowly recurved, 11–24.5 cm long, 4.8–8.8 cm wide, thinly coriaceous, grey-green, with 3 or 4, rarely 6, primary longitudinal nerves running together at base but remaining free from lower margin, with secondary nerves forming an open reticulum; glands 3 or 4, the lowermost at distal end of pulvinus; pulvinus 4–7 mm long. Inflorescences racemose, sometimes terminally paniculate; raceme axes 5.5–15 cm long, rather stout, straight, 6–12-headed; peduncles 9–26 mm long; heads globular, 7–11 mm diam., densely c. 80-flowered, creamy white to pale yellow; bracteoles peltate. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united. Pods flat, 5.5–11 cm long, 2–3 cm wide, coriaceous to subwoody, transversely reticulate. Seeds transverse, elliptic, flattened, 8–10 mm long, brown; aril terminal.
Endemic in N.T. from the Tabletop Ra. S to Daly R. Grows in sand in open forest. Has the ability to sucker following fire.
Most closely related to Acacia platycarpa which has terete branchlets, the main phyllode nerves basally confluent with the lower margin and smaller, fewer-flowered heads. Acacia dunnii is also related to A. tolmerensis but readily distinguished by its larger phyllodes, in addition to the branchlet and nervation characters noted for A. platycarpa .
Type of accepted name
Litchfield Natl Park, N.T., 23 Nov. 1990, I.D.Cowie 1427 & C.R.Dunlop ; holo: DNA; iso: BRI, CANB, K, NSW, PERTH.
Illustration
G.J.Leach, loc. cit.
Representative collections
N.T.: Litchfield Natl Park, I.D.Cowie 1434 & C.R.Dunlop (BRI, CANB, DNA, K, MEL, NSW, PERTH); Daly R., L.L.V.Williams 173 & N.F.Madrill (DNA).
(RSC & 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.
