Acacia ashbyae Maslin, Nuytsia 1: 321; 322, fig. 5 & 330, fig. 9 (1974)
Dense shrub 1.5–2 m high, densely tomentose to appressed-pubescent with hairs especially obvious on new shoots and peduncles. Phyllodes narrowly linear to narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, sometimes subterete, 2–9 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, excentrically mucronulate to rostellate, grey-green, ageing green and glabrous; midrib often impressed when dry; lateral nerves absent or obscure; gland 10–20 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences 1- or 2-headed racemes, enclosed when young by scarious brown bracts which may persist to anthesis; raceme axes 1–2 mm long, frequently growing out at anthesis; peduncles 7–11 mm long; heads obloid to shortly cylindrical, 26–31-flowered, golden; bracteoles slightly exserted in buds. Flowers 5-merous; sepals 3/4–5/6-united. Pods submoniliform, to c. 3.5 cm long, 3 mm wide, thinly crustaceous, breaking readily at slight constrictions between seeds. Seeds longitudinal, oblong, 3–4 mm long, slightly shiny, brown; aril terminal.
Occurs from near Nerren Nerren Stn N of the Murchison R. S to Naraling and near Mullewa, also the Coorow- Winchester area, south-western W.A. Grows in red or light brown loam or sandy loam in scrub.
The Coorow- Winchester plants often have longer, narrower phyllodes than those further north, i.e. c. 5–9 cm long and 1–2 mm wide compared with c. 2–5 cm long and 1.5–4 mm wide.
Probably related to A. nigripilosa .
Type of accepted name
Naraling, W.A., 27 Aug. 1972, A.M.Ashby 4584 ; holo: PERTH; iso: AD, CANB, K, NY, PERTH.
Illustrations
B.R.Maslin, op. cit. 322, fig. 5.
Representative collections
W.A.: 8.8 km E of Winchester, C.Chapman s.n. (AD, BRI, CANB, K, MEL, NY, PERTH00151084); 16 km N of Mullewa, J.Goodwin 142 (PERTH); 17 km from Yuna towards Nabawa, B.R.Maslin 3353 (E, MEL, NSW, NY, PERTH); 14.5 km N of Murchison R. on North West Coastal Hwy, B.R.Maslin 3645 (CANB, 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.
