Acacia stereophylla Meisn. in J.G.C.Lehmann, Pl. Preiss. 2: 203 (1848)
Shrub or tree 1.5– 4 (– 6) m high. Branchlets glabrous except tomentulose in phyllode axils. Phyllodes ascending to erect, straight to incurved, flat or terete to subterete, mostly 10– 18 cm long, 1.3– 6.5 mm wide, acute, rigid, glabrous, with numerous closely parallel, fine nerves, the nerves equally prominent or central nerve slightly more prominent than the rest; pulvinus smooth, orange, flared at base. Inflorescences simple, 2 per axil; peduncles mostly 2– 5 mm long, puberulous; spikes golden, 13– 35 mm long, 6 mm diam. Flowers 5-merous; sepals 1/4– 1/2-united. Pods pendent, narrowly oblong, raised over and irregularly constricted between seeds, straight, to 4 cm long, 4- 5 mm wide, papery, slightly reticulate-nerved, glabrous. Seeds longitudinal to slightly oblique, elliptic, 2.8– 3.2 mm long, glossy, tan; aril subapical.
Occurs in Kalbarri Natl Park also from Nerren Nerren (c. 90 km NNW of Kalbarri) SE to Tammin and Boorabbin (c. 90 km E of Southern Cross), south-western W.A. The two varieties comprising the species are similar in most respects except that the widespread var. stereophylla has flat phyllodes whereas var. cylindrata (restricted to an area from within and near Kalbarri Natl Park) have terete or subterete phyllodes. Although the two varieties recognised within the species occur in the Murchison R. district, they are not known to be sympatric.
Acacia sibina has a similarly smooth, flared pulvinus.
Phyllodes flat, 3– 6.5 mm wide
var. stereophylla
Phyllodes terete to subterete, 1.3– 2 mm wide
var. cylindrata
Acacia stereophylla Meisn. var. stereophylla
Phyllodes linear, flat, mostly 10– 17 cm long, 3– 6.5 mm wide, with distinct marginal nerves; pulvinus often with abaxial ridge.
Occurs from Nerren Nerren Stn SE to Tammin and Boorabbin, south-west W.A. Grows in sand, gravelly sand and loam, mostly on plains, in shrubland (where it is often common), scrub, mallee and woodland.
Type of accepted name
Swan R., W.A., J.Drummond 2: 100 ; holo: BM; iso: CGE, MEL, OXF, ?NSW, P, PERTH, W; see B.R.Maslin & R.S.Cowan, Nuytsia 9: 412 (1994), for note on types.
Representative collections
W.A.: 13.5 km N of Tammin towards Korrelocking, B.R.Maslin 4423 (PERTH); c. 89 km from Southern Cross towards Coolgardie, M.E.Phillips WA/68 677 (PERTH); 72.4- 75.6 km S of Wannoo, M.E.Phillips WA/68 1169 (PERTH); 11.3 km SE of Morawa towards Perenjori, M.D.Tindale 2768 (K, NSW, PERTH).
Acacia stereophylla var. cylindrata R.S.Cowan & Maslin, Nuytsia 10: 57 (1995)
Phyllodes terete or subterete, 11– 18 cm long, 1.3– 2 mm wide, with equally distinct nerves; pulvinus normally lacking abaxial ridge.
Restricted to the Kalbarri Natl Park area, W.A. Grows on sandstone cliffs and in sand over sandstone in Acacia shrubland.
Type of accepted name
Murchison R. area, W.A., 31 Aug. 1966, A.C.Burns 1003 ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, G, K, MEL, NSW, NY, PERTH.
Representative collections
W.A.: Kalbarri Natl Park, R.S.Cowan A817 & R.A.Cowan (NY, PERTH, US) and N.Hoyle 619 (CANB, PERTH).
(RSC)
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.
