Acacia brachyclada W.Fitzg., J. Bot . 50: 20 (1912)
Dense, spreading or low-domed, resinous shrub 0.2–0.5 m high with sometimes arching branches. Branchlet extremities with minute, reddish resin hairs. Phyllodes obliquely ovate to obliquely elliptic or oblong-elliptic, infrequently orbicular, 2–7 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, l:w = 1–2.5, exentrically apiculate, slightly thickened, green, minutely tuberculate at least on margins, glabrous; midrib obscure or not evident. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 3–6 mm long, glabrous, the base ebracteate; heads globular, mostly 12–16-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free, 1/4–1/3 length of petals. Pods submoniliform, rather tightly and somewhat irregularly coiled, 2.5–4.5 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, turgid, oblong, 3–4 mm long; aril folded below seed.
Scattered from near Kununoppin S to the Hamersley R. near Ravensthorpe and E to near Mt Ridley N of Esperance, south-western W.A.; usually grows in clay with mallee.
Specimens with orbicular phyllodes and downward-arching branches are rare (Lake Grace, Korrelocking- Kununoppin). They appear not to warrant formal rank.
Similar to A. rhetinocarpa (S.A.) which has a persistent basal peduncular bract, differently shaped phyllodes, partially united sepals and different pods. Phyllodes often resemble A. improcera . The resinous nature of the species, its ebracteate peduncle bases and indistinct phyllode venation suggest affinities to the ‘ A. johnsonii group’ in Qld and N.S.W., but it is readily distinguished by its coiled pods and phyllode shape and size.
Type of accepted name
Kellerberrin, W.A., Dec. 1903, F.H.Vachell ; lecto: BM, fide B.R.Maslin & R.S.Cowan, Nuytsia 9: 394 (1994); isolecto: MEL, NSW, PERTH (Fragment ex MEL).
Representative collections
W.A.: 20 km NE of Mt Ridley, W.R.Archer 7129114 (PERTH); Merredin, M.Koch 3012 (MO, NSW, PERTH); c. 20 km due SW of Scaddan, B.R.Maslin 2526 (AD, 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.
