| Harrow Wattle | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Mimosoideae |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. acanthoclada |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia acanthoclada F.Muell. |
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The Harrow Wattle (Acacia acanthoclada) is a low, divaricate, highly branched and spinescent shrub endemic to Australia.
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Description
It grows up to 2 metres high and has phyllodes which measure 0.2 to 0.6 cm long and 1 to 2 mm wide. The phyllodes are straight, narrow-cuneate, slightly notched at the apex, and feature prominent midveins. Branchlets are terete, whitish and densely pubescent; as the branch grows it becomes glabrous and terminates in rigid spinose point. The bark is grey, white or occasionally greenish.
The golden-yellow flowerheads are peduncles, 5–15 cm long, that appear at phyllode axils. Flower parts are pentamerous, with the sepals fused into a synsepalous calyx. Flowers appear from August to October, followed by irregularly twisted, glaucous, brown seed pods which are 3 to 6 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide.
Its occurs naturally in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria and is listed as endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act in New South Wales.
The type was collected near Kulkyne, Victoria by Ferdinand von Mueller.
Distribution
The species is relatively uncommon and is found scattered at several sites in isolated clumps: Buronga, Wentworth and Pooncarie districts in far south-western New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Arumpo Station and Montarna Station in Western Australia. Arumpo Station in particular is home to a stunted sample, which is threantened by overgrazing by kangaroos.
Habitat
This species usually grows on deep, loose, sandy soil. Its inhabits undisturbed mallee areas, often on ridges and dunes, and more rarely on rock outcrops.
See also
Associated species:
- Eucalyptus dumosa
- Eucalyptus socialis
- Eucalyptus gracilis
- Eucalyptus costata
- Callitris verrucosa
- Codonocarpus cotinifolius
- Triodia scariosa
References
- Australian National Botanic Gardens: Photo of Acacia acanthoclada
- "Acacia acanthoclada". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3195.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Acacia acanthoclada - endangered species listing
- "Acacia acanthoclada F. Muell.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=3354.
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