Acacia rupicola F.Muell. ex Benth., Linnaea 26: 610 (1855)
Rock Wattle
Somewhat diffuse, glabrous, resinous shrub 1–2.5 m high. Branchlets prominently ribbed. Stipules seemingly absent. Phyllodes sessile, patent, narrowly triangular to linear-triangular, 5–25 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, pungent with slender cusp, rigid, green; midrib prominent; gland 0.5–2 mm above base. Inflorescences simple, 1 per axil; peduncles 5–15 mm long; basal bracts 2; heads globular, 20–25-flowered, cream to pale yellow. Flowers 4-merous; sepals free to 3/4-united. Pods linear, arcuate, to 7 cm long, 3–4.5 mm wide, thinly coriaceous, finely longitudinally and openly reticulate, light brown. Seeds longitudinal, oblong to narrowly elliptic, 4.5–5.5 mm long, dark brown; aril terminal.
Occurs in S.A. from Eyre Penin. to near Bordertown, also in the Grampians, Vic. Grows in woodland to open forest in rocky areas or open scrub in near-coastal areas.
Acacia ulicifolia has somewhat similar phyllodes and flower-heads but it is a non-resinous shrub with 5-merous flowers and non-arillate seeds. Acacia oxycedrus and A. rhigiophylla also have similar phyllodes except that they are multinerved; moreover, these two species have spicate inflorescences.
Type of accepted name
Marble Ra., S.A., F.Mueller s.n. ; holo: K; iso: MEL, NSW.
Illustrations
L.F.Costermans, Native Trees & Shrubs SE Australia 308 (1981); M.Simmons, Acacias Australia 41 (1981); T.Tame, Acacias SE Australia 100, fig. 94, pl. 94 (1992); D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, Acacias S. Australia 2nd edn, 101 (1992).
Representative collections
S.A.: Wirrabarra, Southern Flinders Ra., B.Copley 3685 (AD, W, Z); Blewitt’s Springs, Mt Lofty Ra., N.Gemmell 265 (AD, HBG); Southern Eyre Penin., Oct. 1882, Mrs.Richards (AD). Vic.: Mt Arapiles, Grampians, A.C.Beauglehole l6966 (MEL).
(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.
