Acacia spinescens Benth., London J. Bot. 1: 323 (1842)
Spiny Wattle , Hard-leaf Wattle
Much-branched, erect shrub mostly 0.5–1 m high. Branchlets rigid, terete, striated by rather prominent yellow ribs, green, grey-green or subglaucous between ribs, glabrous, spinose. Phyllodes normally absent, very rarely few persistent at base of main stems, linear, 1–5 cm long, 2 mm wide, thick; tip curved or hooked. Inflorescences simple; heads usually sessile, globular, 3–8-flowered, 5–7 mm diam., bright golden; bracteoles sessile, concave, c. 1 mm long and almost as wide, brown. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united. Pods moniliform, curved, becoming twisted, 2–3 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, dark brown, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, oblong-elliptic; aril clavate.
Occurs from near Ceduna, S.A. to Mildura and the Northern Grampians, western Vic. Grows in a variety of vegetation and soil types.
This species is readily recognised by its rigid, striate, spinose branches which are normally devoid of phyllodes. Its flower-heads are normally sessile, however, the peduncles occasionally reach 6 mm long, fide D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, Acacias S. Australia 2nd edn, 44 (1992). Acacia spinescens sometimes superficially resembles A. ferocior (W.A.).
The inflorescence arrangement (which is an extremely reduced 1-headed raceme), peduncular bracts, bracteoles, gamosepalous calyx and carpological features suggest this species is nearest the ‘ A. pravifolia group’, despite its unusual vegetative characteristics.
Type of accepted name
Australia, Fraser ; holo: K; iso: K.
Synonymy
Choretrum oxycladum F.Muell., Fragm. 1: 21 (1858). Type: Port Lincoln, S.A., C.Wilhelmi ; holo: MEL2308. This synonymy is discussed by A.B.Court, Muelleria 2: 158 (1972).
Illustrations
F. von Mueller, Iconogr. Austral. Acacia dec. 1 [pl. 2] (1887); L.F.Costermans, Native Trees & Shrubs SE Australia 307 (1981); T.Tame, Acacias SE Australia 105, fig. 102, pl. 102 (1992); D.J.E.Whibley & D.E.Symon, Acacias S. Australia 2nd edn, 45 (1992).
Representative collections
S.A.: c. 12 km NE of Port Niell, Hj.Eichler 19143 (AD n.v. , PERTH); c. midway between Pinnaroo & Renmark, N.Hall H80/42 (NSW, PERTH); c. 5 km W of Stenhouse Bay, J.R.Wheeler 76 (AD n.v. , PERTH). Vic.: Mildura, c. 1942, F. Robbins (MEL); Miram South Dam Wildlife Res., A.C.Beauglehole 84141 (MEL n.v. , 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.
