Acacia ligustrina Meisn., in J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss . 2: 203 (1848)
Spreading shrub or tree 1.5–3.5 m high. Branchlets appressed to subappressed puberulous with straight hairs. Phyllodes frequently patent and shallowly recurved, asymmetrically oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 2–6 cm long, 3–9 mm wide, l:w = 4–12, obliquely acute to obtuse or truncate, mucronate, thinly coriaceous, densely appressed-pubescent at first, glabrescent; midrib not prominent; glands 1–3 often on small projections of adaxial margin, lowermost 5–10 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences simple, 2 per axil; peduncles 5–10 mm long, glabrous; heads globular, 4.5–6 mm diam., 20–40-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free. Pods moniliform, arcuate to loosely and irregularly coiled or twisted, to c. 4 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, thinly coriaceous-crustaceous, sparsely strigulose. Seeds longitudinal, elliptic, 2.5–3 mm long, shiny, dark brown to black; aril 1/2 to wholly enveloping seed, bright orange.
Occurs from Mt Kokeby Siding (between Beverly and Brookton) N to Morawa and Cadoux; one collection from North West Coastal Hwy N of the Murchison R. (c. 250 km NW of Three Springs), W.A. Grows in gravelly loam, loam and clay on or near salt flats and depressions or in open eucalypt woodland.
Generally, at least some phyllodes have more than one gland and these glands are often on slight triangular spurs; when present they are diagnostic.
Related to A. sericocarpa and A. merrallii which also have conspicuous, usually orange arils.
Type of accepted name
Swan R., W.A., J.Drummond 2: 150 ; syn: BM, G, K, LD, MEL, NSW, OXF, P, PERTH (Fragment ex MEL), W; see B.R.Maslin & R.S.Cowan, Nuytsia 9: 408 (1994), for note on types.
Representative collections
W.A.: near 426 m.p. on North West Coastal Hwy, A.M.Ashby 4574 (E, MO, PERTH); S side of Cadoux, R.J.Cumming 1861 (PERTH); Wongan Hills, J.Gilbert 54 (BM, PERTH); 6.4 km W of Three Springs towards Eneabba, B.R.Maslin 3061 (K, PERTH); c. 1 km due W of Mt Kokeby Siding, B.R.Maslin 6338 (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.
