Acacia leiocalyx

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 leiocalyx
Subspecies: A. leiocalyx subsp. herveyensis
Name

Acacia leiocalyx (Domin) Pedley, 1926
Synonyms

Acacia leiocalyx subsp. herveyensis Pedley

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
Acacia leiocalyx

Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
New South Wales, Queensland

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

Pedley, L., 1926. Bibliotheca Botanica. Kassel 22(Heft 89):269(823).

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Acacia leiocalyx in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Aug 06. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Acacia leiocalyx. Published online. Accessed: Aug 06 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Acacia leiocalyx. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 06 Aug 2019.
Hassler, M. Aug. Acacia leiocalyx. 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. Aug. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: Aug 06 {{{3}}}. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Acacia leiocalyx in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
English: Blackwattle, Curracabah, Early Flowering Black Wattle

Acacia leiocalyx (black wattle, early flowering black wattle, lamb's tail wattle, curracabah) grows in Queensland, Australia and as far south as Sydney. It is widespread and common in eucalypt woodlands, especially on well-drained, shallow soils. It is short-lived and grows 6–7 metres (20–23 ft.) tall, with a trunk about 180 mm (7 inches) in diameter.[1][2]

Description

A small Acacia tree with furrowed bark; sickle-shaped green leaves with prominent veins, the bottom two joined near the base. Flowers yellow, in narrow spikes. Narrow, rather curly pods in loose bunches. It usually flowers June to October.[3]
Taxonomy

There were several closely related trees which used to all come under the name of Acacia cunninghamii, but have been now identified as a number of separate species. The Acacia cunninghamii 'group' all have spiky inflorescences and large phyllodes. They are closely interrelated and taxonomically 'difficult' species, and are often confused and poorly defined.[4]

A. leiocalyx is most closely related to Acacia concurrens, but the differences between the two species are subtle. In A. leiocalyx the small branches are smooth, sharply angular and usually red-brown, the pulvinus is short and red, and the calyx is hairless, or almost so. A. concurrens, on the other hand, has stouter, angular branchlets which are scaly and usually not distinctly reddish, a long grey-green pulvinus, and calyces with a few stiff short hairs towards their base. Some intermediates or hybrids between the two species occur in northern N.S.W. It is also related to Acacia crassa. Two subspecies are recognised: Acacia leiocalyx (Domin) Pedley subsp. leiocalyx and Acacia leiocalyx subsp. herveyensis" Pedley, Austrobaileya 1: 180 (1978)[2]
A. leiocalyx flowers and foliage
Distribution

"The species includes many different forms which are widespread in Queensland from the coast to more than 325 km inland, mostly on stony or gravelly soils. It is eaten by livestock in times of scarcity but is not of major importance as a drought fodder (Everist, 1969)."[5]
Uses

The timber is colourful but splits easily even with the end grain sealed.[1] The seeds and gum are apparently edible, but caution should be taken - especially as there are so many difficult to identify similar species.[6]
References

Acacia leiocalyx (Early flowering wattle). www.ttit.id.au/treepages
Acacia leiocalyx World Wide Wattle
NSW PlantNet: Acacia leiocalyx
Acacia leiocalyx: Look for diagnosis
Atlas of Living Australia (ALA): Acacia leiocalyx Distribution
Acacia leiocalyx: Noosa's Native Plants