Acacia heterochroa

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 heterochroa
Subspecies: A. heterochroa subsp. heterochroa - A. heterochroa subsp. robertii
Name

Acacia heterochroa Maslin
References

Nuytsia 10(1): 93 (1995).

Acacia heterochroa is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to south western Australia.

Description

The glabrous spreading shrub typically grows to a height of 0.3 to 2.0 metres (1 to 7 ft).[1] It has terete and ribbed branchlets that are dusted in a white powder. The new shoot tend to be a reddish colour with stipules that are easily detached. The grey-green phyllodes have an elliptic to ovate or sometimes almost circular shape with a length of 1 to 3.5 cm (0.39 to 1.38 in) and a width of 1 to 2.5 cm (0.39 to 0.98 in) with a prominent midrib and marginal nerves.[2] It produces yellow flowers from April to December.[1] The simple inflorescences have large spherical flower-heads containing 5 to 12 loosely packed bright lemon yellow flowers. The linear to curved and erect seed pods that form after flowering have a length of up to 6.5 cm (2.6 in) and a width of 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in). The purplish-red pods are thick and woody and dry to a black colour. The glossy brown seeds within the pods have an oblong shape and are 3.5 to 4 mm (0.14 to 0.16 in) in length.[2]
Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the botanist Bruce Maslin in 1995 as part of the work Acacia Miscellany. Acacia myrtifolia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae: section Phyllodineae) and its allies in Western Australia as published in the journal Nuytsia. It was reclassified as Racosperma heterochroa in 2003 by Leslie Pedley then transferred back to the genus Acacia in 2006.[3] There are two recognised subspecies:

Acacia heterochroa subsp. heterochroa
Acacia heterochroa subsp. robertii

It belongs to the Acacia myrtifolia group.[2]
Distribution

It is native to an area along the south coast in the Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern regions of Western Australia where it is found on hilltops and ridges growing in gravelly lateritic soils.[1] The shrub is mostly found between Holt Rock and Ravensthorpe in open woodland or mallee communities.[2]
See also

List of Acacia species

References

"Acacia heterochroa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
"Acacia heterochroa". World Wide Wattle. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
"Acacia heterochroa Maslin". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 12 May 2019.