Acacia sublanata Benth., in S.F.L.Endlicher et al. , Enum. Pl . 42 (1837)
Erect to semi-prostrate shrub 0.4–3 m high. Branchlets striate, tomentose-villous. Stipules persistent, free, linear-lanceolate, arcuate. Phyllodes sessile, patent, inequilaterally broadly obdeltate, straight, 4–15 mm long, 4–15 mm wide, acute to acuminate with straight or recurved tip, mucronate, pungent, firmly chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, glabrous or sparingly tomentose-villous, glabrescent, with 2–4 distant, raised nerves, the marginal nerves prominent, yellow. Inflorescences simple; peduncles 6–20 mm long, tomentose-villous, often with median bract; heads globular to occasionally obloid, 5–6 mm diam., to 8 mm long, 30-flowered, golden, scented; bracteoles not exserted. Flowers 5-merous; sepals united into a 5-lobed calyx. Pods linear, raised over and constricted between seeds, straight, to 14 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, crustaceous, sparsely to moderately crispate-puberulous. Seeds longitudinal, oblong, 5–7.5 mm long, glossy, brown-black; aril terminal.
Occurs from upper South Alligator R. and East Alligator R., E to Gove Penin. and Groote Eylandt, N.T. Usually grows in woodland on sandstone.
Several N.T. collections (e.g. Gove, R.Hinz 8223 , DNA, and c. 16 km S of Oenpelli Mission, L.G.Adams & C.R.Dunlop 2974 , DNA, have distinctly obloid flower-heads, but are otherwise typical of the species. There is also very considerable variation in size and form of the phyllodes but with no obvious disjunctions.
As noted by A.B.Court, Muelleria 2: 159 (1972), Bentham incorrectly synonymised A. pravifolia under A. sublanata , thereby causing confusion for more than a century about the correct application of the name.
Nearest A. adenogonia which has partly united stipules, ovate to lanceolate phyllodes with the gland usually projecting beyond the phyllode margin, exserted bracteoles, quite different calyx and closed seed-pleurogram. Also related to A. froggattii . Superficially reminiscent of A. arafurica which has spicate inflorescences and pulvinate phyllodes, among numerous other differences.
Type of accepted name
Australia, F.Bauer ; holo: K; iso: W.
Synonymy
Racosperma sublanatum (Benth.) Pedley, Austrobaileya 2: 318; 319, fig. 2F–I (1987). Type: as for accepted name.
Acacia luehmannii F.Muell. (as ‘Luehmanni’), Fragm . 11: 116 (1881). Type: Liverpool R., N.T., B.Gulliver ; holo: MEL; iso: K, NSW.
Illustrations
F. von Mueller, Iconogr. Austral. Acacia , dec. 7 [pl. 2] (1887), as A. luehmannii ; L.Pedley, loc. cit .; J.Brock, Top End Native Pl. 75 (1988); R.S.Cowan & B.R.Maslin, Nuytsia 7: 203, fig. 1E–G (1990).
Representative collections
N.T.: Murganella, D.Bowman 302 & B.Wilson (DNA); 8 km SW of B.H.P. camp airstrip, J.R.Maconochie 1489 (BRI, DNA, NSW, PERTH); 11.3 km E of Rum Bottle Ck, J.R.Maconochie 1592 (BRI, DNA, PERTH); Yirrkala, R.L.Specht 668 (BRI, 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.
