Acacia meisneri Lehm. ex Meisn., in J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss . 1: 13 (1844)
Dense, glabrous, infundibular or rounded shrub 2–4 m high. Branchlets pruinose. Phyllodes elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, 15–40 mm long, 5–15 mm wide, l:w usually 2–4, obtuse to acute, often mucronulate, grey to glaucous, often pruinose, 1-nerved per face; lateral nerves obscure. Inflorescences predominantly simple but often interspersed with a few 3–7-branched racemes with axes 3–18 mm long; peduncles mostly 7–20 mm long; heads globular, rarely obloid, commonly 4–5 mm diam. and 35–50-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free. Pods biconvex, deeply constricted between seeds, fragmenting easily at constrictions, to 10 cm long, 6–7 mm wide, crustaceous, pruinose or sometimes not, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 5.5–7 mm long, dull, black; funicle filiform, 1/2–3/4 encircling seed in a single fold; aril thick.
Occurs principally in the Avon R. drainage system from Goomalling to Brookton; an outlying population occurs near Wannamal, W.A. Grows in sand, sandy clay, clay, loamy sand, loam, rocky loam, rocky clay and lateritic gravel, often in Wandoo woodland, frequently on roadsides. Flowers sporadically throughout the year.
Phyllodes very variable in shape and size. Atypically elongate forms (l:w = 5–8) occur on some plants, especially in the Northam- Toodyay area; because there is no marked discontinuity in phyllode dimensions the entity described by Meissner as var. angustifolia is not formally recognised for these plants.
One of the ‘ A. microbotrya group’ which may be confused with pruinose forms of the more easterly distributed close relative, A. leptopetala which has predominantly racemose inflorescences. Also closely allied to A. merrickiae which has a more open habit and slightly larger flower-heads which are more often in racemes. Intermediates occur among the three species.
Type of accepted name
Near York, W.A., 4 Sept. 1839, L.Preiss 930 ; lecto: LD, fide B.R.Maslin & R.S.Cowan, Nuytsia 9: 409 (1994); isolecto: G, GOET, K, MEL, P, PERTH, STR.
Synonymy
Acacia meisneri Lehm., Del. Sem. Hort. Hamburg 1842: 3 (1842), nom. nud .
Acacia meisneri var. angustifolia Meisn., in J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss. 1: 13 (1844). Type: Swan R., W.A., J.Drummond 292 ; syn: BM, G, K, MEL, NSW, OXF, P, PERTH, W; see B.R.Maslin & R.S.Cowan, loc. cit ., for note on types. [‘Acacia angustifolia , Meisn.’ in Index Kewensis 1: 6 (1893) is presumably an error for this variety].
[ Acacia triquetra auct. non Benth.: G.Bentham, Fl. Austral. 2: 354 (1864) p.p. , as to J.Drummond 109 and 292 ]
Illustrations
M.Simmons, Acacias Australia 103 & pl. 54 (1981).
Representative collections
W.A.: c. 9.6 km S of Wannamal Siding, A.S.George 8636 (PERTH, TLF); 19 km from York towards Quairading, B.R.Maslin 3819 (K, PERTH); 3 km W of Toodyay on Harper Rd, B.R.Maslin 5322 (PERTH); 3.2 km N of Brookton on Brookton Hwy, M.D.Tindale 127 & B.R.Maslin (NSW, 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.
