Acacia synchronicia Maslin, Nuytsia 8: 302; 303, fig. 6 (1992)
Somewhat diffuse, glabrous shrub or tree 1.5–3 m high, sometimes 6 m. Stipules spinose, commonly absent or infrequent on mature plants, 3–10 mm long. Phyllodes variable, narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, sometimes linear or elliptic, usually 10–30 mm long and 3–8 mm wide with l:w = 3–7, green to glaucous, subfleshy, finely wrinkled when dry; midrib and lateral nerves obscure or absent; gland basal, rather prominent. Inflorescences simple, 1 or 2 per axil, initiated synchronously with phyllodes on new shoots; racemes rare; peduncles 1–2 cm long, with caducous bract near or above middle; heads globular, 40–70-flowered, golden. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free, narrowly spathulate. Pods narrowly oblong, to 4–5 cm long, 8–12 mm wide, chartaceous. Seeds transverse, ovate to elliptic, usually 4–5 mm long, dull, black or mottled; funicle short, thick, narrowly arillate.
Common from Shark Bay N to Port Hedland and E to Rudall R., also the southern Kimberleys, scattered occurrences in the Cue- Yalgoo area, W.A.; also one collection from near Rabbit Flat Roadhouse, N.T., c. 100 km E of W.A. border. Grows along watercourses and on alluvial flats, mostly in shrubland.
The phyllodes of A. synchronicia vary considerably in shape and size, particularly in width. Specimens from north-west W.A. with linear, especially narrow phyllodes (1–2 mm wide, l:w = 10–14) and black, non-mottled seeds 3–4 mm long may ultimately be shown to warrant formal rank, e.g. Upper Rudall R. area, M.McInnes s.n. (PERTH156698). This variant was called A . affin. victoriae by B.R.Maslin, in J.P.Jessop (ed.), Fl. Central Australia 131 (1981), see B.R.Maslin, Nuytsia 8: 304 (1992), for discussion. A few specimens resemble A. glaucocaesia in having elliptic, especially broad phyllodes (8–10 mm wide, l:w = 2–3), e.g. 6 km S of Nullagine on Great Northern Hwy, B.R. Maslin 5267 (PERTH).
Formerly included in A. victoriae which differs especially in its normally racemose inflorescences with pale lemon-yellow heads of 15–30 flowers; also its phyllodes are often longer with a generally smaller gland and more prominent midrib. A few Kimberley specimens are possibly intermediate between the two species.
Type of accepted name
Karratha, opposite Clarkson Rd, W.A., Sept. 1988, P.Glennon s.n. ; holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, G, K, MEL, NY.
Synonymy
Acacia affin. victoriae Benth., B.R.Maslin, in J.P.Jessop (ed.), Fl. Central Australia 131 (1981).
Illustration
B.R.Maslin, loc. cit. (1992).
Representative collections
W.A.: 93 km from Halls Ck on road to Fitzroy Crossing, I.B.Armitage 166 (PERTH); near Mindi Springs, Hamersley Ra. Natl Park, C.Dawe 093 (BRI, K, PERTH); 57.5 km SE of Yalgoo towards Paynes Find, B.R.Maslin 4253 (PERTH); 42 km S of Onslow on Ashburton R., D.G.White 630805 (PERTH); N.T.: 3 km NW of Rabbit Flat, on Tanami Track [Rd], M.Hancock 459 (DNA, NSW, 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.
