Acacia laricina Meisn., in J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss . 1: 6 (1844)
Dense, spreading, semi-prostrate, domed shrub to c. 0.5 m high. Branchlets variably pruinose, densely appressed-pubescent to tomentose at extremities. Stipules linear to triangular or setaceous, erect, 3–6 mm long. Phyllodes rather crowded, continuous with branchlets but not forming cauline wings, ascending to erect, straight to shallowly curved, pentagonal in section, 15–50 mm long, 0.7–1.7 mm wide, with oblique, pungent apex, green, glabrous to sparsely puberulous, prominently 5-nerved. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles usually 7–20 mm long, appressed-pubescent, recurved in fruit; heads globular, 17–30-flowered, cream to pale yellow. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united. Pods terete to subterete, to 4.5 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, thinly coriaceous, curved, red-brown, coarsely striate, glabrous or puberulous. Seeds (var. laricina ) longitudinal, oblong to oblong-elliptic, 3.5–4 mm long, subshiny, brown, pusticulate; aril terminal, conical.
Occurs between Dumbleyung, Frankland (c. 60 km due NW of Mount Barker) and the Oldfield R. (c. 40 km E of Ravensthorpe), south-western W.A.
Appears closely related to A. cedroides which is distinguished by its verticillate phyllodes; also closely related to A. rhamphophylla . Phyllodes sometimes resemble those of A. barbinervis subsp. borealis and A. ataxiphylla subsp. ataxiphylla .
Two varieties are recognised; a few specimens from near Ravensthorpe are seemingly intermediate.
Phyllodes smooth, mostly shallowly recurved; peduncles 10–20 mm long; pods c. 4 mm wide
var. laricina
Phyllodes scabridulous, straight to shallowly incurved; peduncles 3–10 mm long; pods c. 2 mm wide
var. crassifolia
Acacia laricina Meisn. var. laricina
Phyllodes usually 15–35 mm long, 0.7–1 mm wide, rather slender, mostly shallowly recurved, smooth. Peduncles 10–20 mm long; heads 20–30-flowered. Petals 1-nerved. Pods to 4.5 cm long, c. 4 mm wide.
Scattered from near Dumbleyung S to Frankland (c. 60 km NW of Mount Barker) and E to Ongerup; also at Dunn Rock Nature Reserve (c. 160 km E of Dumbleyung) and near the Oldfield R. (c. 40 km E of Ravensthorpe). Grows often in gravelly sand in Eucalyptus woodland or low shrubland.
A variant from near the Oldfield R., c. 40 km E of Ravensthorpe, characterised by rather thick phyllodes to 5 cm long, resembles var. crassifolia (e.g. 22.7 km due SE of Muckinwobert Rock, M.A.Burgman 2707 & S.McNee , PERTH).
Type of accepted name
Interior of south-west W.A., Oct. 1840, L.Preiss 973 ; lecto: NY, fide B.R.Maslin & R.S.Cowan, Nuytsia 9: 407 (1994); isolecto: C, FI, G, GOET, HBG, L, LD, M, MEL, P, PERTH, STR.
Illustration
F. von Mueller, Iconogr. Austral. Acacia dec. 2 (1887).
Representative collections
W.A.: between Dumbleyung and Lake Grace, W.E.Blackall 3161 (PERTH); Swan R., J.Drummond (3:) 101 (BM, CGE, FI, G, OXF, P, TCD); 46 km S of Kojonup towards Rocky Gully, B.R.Maslin 3994 (MEL, PERTH); 22.5 km W of Ongerup, K.R.Newbey 551 (PERTH).
Acacia laricina var. crassifolia Maslin, Nuytsia 12: 367 (1999)
Phyllodes 28–42 mm long, 1–1.7 mm wide, thick, straight to very shallowly incurved, scabridulous. Peduncles 7–10 mm long, infrequently 3 mm; heads 17–21-flowered. Petals nerveless. Pods (only dehisced valves seen) to 3 cm long, 2 mm wide.
Confined to the Ravensthorpe Ra (near Ravensthorpe). Grows in well drained loamy sand or sand over clay on rocky ridges in open Mallee scrub.
Type of accepted name
Mt Desmond, 9.8 km S of Ravensthorpe, W.A., 9 Oct. 1975, B.R.Maslin 3902; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB.
Representative collections
W.A.: Mt Short, N of Ravensthorpe, A.S.George 5713 (PERTH); Ravensthorpe Ra. near Kundip, c. 18 km S of Ravensthorpe, B.R.Maslin 4783 (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.
