Acacia stipuligera F.Muell., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot . 3: 144 (1859)
Often multistemmed, rounded, bushy shrub, 2–6 m high. Bark longitudinally fissured, with small flakes, light to dark grey. Branchlets terete, densely to sparsely puberulous. Stipules broadly triangular, c. 1 mm long, dark brown. Phyllodes narrowly elliptic, flat, straight to shallowly incurved, 3.5–9.5 cm long, (7–) 10–15 (–20) mm wide, with mucro to 1.5 mm long, coriaceous, glabrous to densely puberulous, the 2 or 3 longitudinal main nerves more prominent, the minor nerves finely reticulate; glands 1–5, marginal, reniform-depressed. Peduncles 1–5 mm long, puberulous. Spikes paired in phyllode axils, 2–5 cm long, dense, bright yellow. Flowers 5-merous; calyx 0.8–1 mm long, dissected to 1/2, membranous, pubescent; corolla 1.2–1.5 mm long, slightly pubescent. Pods linear, subtorulose, straight to curved, 5.5–13.5 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, densely pubescent, later glabrous. Seeds longitudinal, narrowly oblong, 4.5–5.5 mm long, dark brown; areole 0.9–1 mm long.
Widespread in tropical Australia, from the Great Sandy Desert, W.A., and the Tanami Desert, W.A. and N.T., extending into the northern central area of N.T. and the desert country on the Dividing Ra., Qld, between Jericho and L. Buchanan. Grows in red sandy soils and loam in scrub or woodland, often with spinifex. Flowers May–Aug., sometimes earlier and older flowers retained other months.
This is a variable species with a very wide geographical distribution. It is readily distinguished by the two prominent nerves running from the phyllode base to the apex with conspicuously reticulate, crowded nerves between, as well as the presence of 3–5 marginal glands. The number of glands is somewhat variable, even on the same plant, but is rarely less than three.
Acacia stipuligera var. glabrifolia has not been maintained as a separate taxon. The phyllodes of the holotype are slightly pubescent at the base. All the other Qld specimens cited here have glabrous phyllodes mostly with 2 prominent nerves. L.Pedley, Austrobaileya 2: 356 (1987), raised this variety to subspecific rank as Racosperma stipuligerum (F. Muell) Pedley subsp. glabrifolium (Maiden & Blakely) Pedley without any discussion except that subsp. stipuligerum does not occur in Queensland. There are 2 W.A. collections of A. stipuligera with almost glabrous phyllodes, viz. ‘Rita Downs’, SW of Broome, F.Lullfitz L6221 (NSW, PERTH) and Thangoo Stn, F.Lullfitz L6132 (CANB, K, NSW, PERTH), which have relatively narrow phyllodes 4–7.5 mm wide with 2 or 3 prominent nerves. Other material from north-western W.A. has relatively pubescent phyllodes usually with 3 prominent nerves. The majority of N.T. specimens of A. stipuligera have fairly pubescent phyllodes mostly with 3 prominent nerves.
L.Pedley, Austrobaileya 1: 170 (1978) suggests that A. stipuligera may be allied to A. acradenia , although the relationship is not close. Superficially resembles A. gloeotricha .
Details of ecology, utilisation, etc. of Acacia stipuligera are given by L.A.J.Thomson & N.Hall, CSIRO Div. Forestry & Forest Products Australian acacias Leaflet No. 26 (1989). Details of fire tolerance and Aboriginal use are given by P.Latz, Bushfires & Bushtucker 117 (1995).
Type of accepted name
Sources of the Victoria R., [N.T.], 26 Mar. 1862, F.Mueller ; syn: MEL; Hookers [Hooker] Creek, [N.T.], F.Mueller ; syn: MEL; Sturts [Sturt] Creek, [W.A./N.T.], F.Mueller ; syn: MEL.
Synonymy
Racosperma stipuligerum (F.Muell.) Pedley, Austrobaileya 2: 356 (1987). Type: as for accepted name.
Acacia stipuligera var. glabrifolia Maiden & Blakely, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 38: 120 (1927); Racosperma stipuligerum subsp. glabrifolium (Maiden & Blakely) Pedley, Austrobaileya 2: 356 (1987); A. stipuligera subsp. glabrifolia (Maiden & Blakely) Pedley, Austrobaileya 3: 216 (1990). Type: Jericho, Qld, Deane 212 ; holo: NSW.
Illustrations
B.R.Maslin, in J.Jessop (ed.), Fl. Centr. Australia 125, fig. 161F (1981); P.Latz, Bushfires & Bushtucker 117 (1995).
Representative collections
W.A.: near Echidna Chasm, Bungle Bungle Mtns near Turkey Ck, M.Hancock 451 (NSW); 15 km S of campsite at Red Ck, 10 km ENE of Bungle Bungle Outcamp, K.F.Kenneally 9233 (NSW, PERTH);. N.T.: Fergusson R., C.E.F.Allen 646 (NSW); 44.4 miles [71.5 km] SW [of] Hooker Ck Settlement, 15 Apr. 1959, G.Chippendale (NSW, NT). Qld: between Emerald and Barcaldine, N.Hall H84/25 (NSW).
(NSW)
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.
