Acacia acanthoclada

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Acacieae
Genus: Acacia
Species: Acacia acanthoclada
Subspecies: A. acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens
Name

Acacia acanthoclada F.Muell.
Synonyms

Racosperma acanthocladum (F.Muell.) Pedley

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
Acacia acanthoclada

Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Mueller, F.v. 1862–1863. Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 3. 177 pp. J. Ferres, Melbourne. BHL Reference page. : 3:127.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Acacia acanthoclada in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Jul 23. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Acacia acanthoclada. Published online. Accessed: Jul 23 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Acacia acanthoclada. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul 23.
Hassler, M. Jul. Acacia acanthoclada. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. Jul. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: Jul 23 {{{3}}}. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Acacia acanthoclada in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
English: Harrow Wattle

Acacia acanthoclada, commonly known as harrow wattle, is a low, divaricate, highly branched and spinescent shrub that is endemic to Australia.

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 a rigid spinose point. The bark is grey, white or occasionally greenish.

The golden-yellow flowerheads, on 5–15 cm long peduncles, appear at the 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.[1]
Taxonomy

The species was formally described in 1863 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in the third volume of his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae, based on plant material collected near Kulkyne, Victoria.[2]

Two subspecies are recognised:

A. acanthoclada F.Muell. subsp. acanthoclada[3]
A. acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens Maslin[2][4]

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 threatened by overgrazing by kangaroos.
Habitat

This species usually grows on deep, loose, sandy soil. It inhabits undisturbed mallee areas, often on ridges and dunes, and more rarely on rock outcrops.[5]
See also

List of Acacia species

Associated species:

Eucalyptus dumosa
Eucalyptus socialis
Eucalyptus gracilis
Eucalyptus costata
Callitris verrucosa
Codonocarpus cotinifolius
Triodia scariosa

References

Kodela P.G. & G.J. Harden. "Acacia acanthoclada". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
"Acacia acanthoclada". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
"Acacia acanthoclada F.Muell. subsp. acanthoclada". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
"Acacia acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens Maslin". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
"Harrow Wattle - profile". threatened species. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW). Retrieved 21 March 2011.