Acacia caesariata R.S.Cowan & Maslin, Nuytsia 7: 210; 211, fig. 1A–B (1990)
Dense, spreading, rounded or flat-topped shrub 0.6–1.3 m high. New shoots conspicuous by a dense, white tomentum. Branchlets slightly ribbed, tomentose. Stipules persistent, subulate, 1.5–4 mm long. Phyllodes ascending to erect, oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, straight to shallowly incurved, 2–4.5 cm long, 2–8 (–10) mm wide, rounded-obtuse or acute, mucronate, coriaceous, dull green to grey-green, tomentose, tardily glabrescent, with 3–5 or more subdistant longitudinal nerves per face, sometimes with occasional anastomoses; gland 0–3 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences simple, 2 per axil; peduncles mostly 2–4 mm long, tomentose; heads globular, 4 mm diam., 18–20-flowered, light golden; bracteoles linear-fusiform to narrowly oblong. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free; petals glabrous. Pods irregularly curved, undulate or coiled, to 2.5 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, chartaceous, densely pubescent. Seeds longitudinal, oval, elliptic or oblong, 2.5–3 mm long, glossy, black; aril large, terminal, helmet-shaped, white.
Scattered from near Kununoppin S to Lake Grace, south-western W.A. Found mostly in mallee scrub and eucalypt woodland, in hard loam or clay.
Further study is need to better understand the patterns of variation of phyllodes within this species. Specimens from the Kununoppin – Wyalkatchem area have the broadest phyllodes (4–8 mm wide); elsewhere the phyllodes are 2–3 mm wide. The narrow phyllode individuals are easily confused with A. sclerophylla var. pilosa (which has phyllodes 1–2 mm wide) but are most readily distinguished by their densely tomentose new shoots (hairs +/- appressed) and longer stipules (1.5–2 mm long); in A. sclerophylla var. pilosa the hairs on new shoots are not as dense and are rather wide-spreading, and the stipules are 0.5–1 mm long.
Most closely related to A. torticarpa . There is a superficial similarity to A. consobrina but phyllodes of that species have numerous anastomoses between the primary nerves, in addition to other differences. Also can be similar in appearance to A. sclerophylla var. pilosa (see above).
Type of accepted name
30.5 km W of Kununoppin towards Wyalkatchem, W.A., 26 Aug. 1973, B.R.Maslin 3405 ; holo: PERTH; iso: AD, CANB, K, MEL, NSW, NY.
Illustration
R.S.Cowan & B.R.Maslin, loc. cit .
Representative collections
W.A.: Corrigin, J.Goodwin K22 (PERTH); 11.5 km N of Bungulla towards Wyalkatchem, B.R.Maslin 3399 (AD, BRI, CANB, G, K, MEL, NSW, PERTH); between Lake Grace and Kulin, N.Perry 518 (PERTH)
(RSC)
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.
