Acacia quadrilateralis DC., Prodr . 2: 451 (1825)
Spindly glabrous shrub to 3 m high. Branchlets slender, lenticellular. Phyllodes on short stem-projections, frequently in fascicles of 2 or 3 per node on mature branchlets, rather crowded, erect to inclined, slender, quadrangular in section, mostly 2–6 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, pungent, somewhat rigid, 4-nerved; nerves muriculate. Inflorescences simple, mostly 1 per axil; peduncles 5–12 mm long; basal bract persistent; heads globular, 15–30-flowered, cream or pale lemon yellow; bracteole laminae shortly acuminate. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free to 1/2 united. Pods submoniliform, to 9 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, firmly chartaceous, dark brown. Seeds longitudinal, oblong, 4–6 mm long, dull, dark brown mottled yellowish, exarillate; funicle filiform.
Occurs from near Bundaberg, Qld S to Sydney, with an outlier (? introduced to the area) c. 200 km S of Sydney at Warden Head, Ulladulla, N.S.W. Grows in sand in coastal areas or on sandstone in Eucalyptus open forest.
Most readily distinguished from other members of the ‘ Acacia juncifolia group’ by its short, sharply pungent phyllodes which are commonly in fascicles of 2–3 per node on mature branchlets. Acacia quadrilateralis is not far removed from the ‘ A. ulicifolia group’.
Type of accepted name
Fl. Novae Holl. [N.S.W.], F.W.Sieber 442 ; holo: G-DC; iso: BM, K, MEL n.v. , NSW, NY.
Synonymy
Racosperma quadrilaterale (DC.) Pedley, Austrobaileya 2: 354 (1987). Type: as for accepted name.
[ Acacia pugioniformis auct. non H.L.Wendl. (1819): H.L.Wendland Comm. Acac. Aphyll. 5, 38, t. 9 (1820) p.p. , fide A.B.Court, Muelleria 2: 156, 158 (1972)]
Illustrations
B.A.Lebler, Wildfl. SE Queensland 2: 36 & colour pl. (1981); M.Simmons, Acacias Australia 2: 37 (1988); T.Tame, Acacias SE Australia 102, fig. 97, pl. 97 (1992).
Representative collections
Qld: on Ravensbourne road, 13 km from Helidon, P.I.Forster PIF7082 (PERTH). N.S.W.: 10.9 km NW of Corindi, R.Coveny 4270 & J.Armstrong (NSW, PERTH); Rocky Ck, R.Coveny 4982 & N.Lander (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.
