Acacia leptopetala
| Acacia leptopetala | |
|---|---|
 | |
| At Hippo's Yawn near Hyden | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. leptopetala |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia leptopetala | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Racosperma leptopetalum (Benth.) Pedley | |
Acacia leptopetala is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is commonly a dense, glabrous shrub with many stems, usually narrowly elliptic to narrowly lance-shaped phyllodes, spherical heads of light golden yellow flowers and linear pods rounded over the seeds.
Description
Acacia leptopetala is commonly a dense, glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) and has many stems. Its branchlets are often covered in a fine white powdery bloom. Its phyllodes are usually narrowly elliptic to narrowly lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 20–55 mm (0.79–2.17 in) long and 3–11 mm (0.12–0.43 in) wide, often with a hooked tip, thinly leathery, and more or less glaucous with a raised midrib. The flowers are usually borne in three to six spherical heads in racemes 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long on peduncles 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long, the heads 3.5–4.0 mm (0.14–0.16 in) in diameter with 25 to 35 light golden yellow flowers. Flowering occurs in November and December, sometimes in January, and the pods are linear, up to 95 mm (3.7 in) long and usually 4.5–6.0 mm (0.18–0.24 in) wide, thinly leathery to slightly crusty and glabrous, rounded over the seeds and usually more or less constricted between them. The seeds are egg-shaped, oblong or elliptic, usually 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and dull black with a thick aril.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy
Acacia leptopetala was first formally described in 1855 by George Bentham in the journal Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde from specimens collected by James Drummond.[6][7] The specific epithet (leptopetala) means 'thin or slender petals'.[8]
Distribution and habitat
This species of wattle grows in clay, loam, sand and gravel in mallee scrub, from near Bencubbin, south to Nyabing, and east to near Ravensthorpe in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.
Conservation status
Acacia leptopetala is listed as 'not threatened' by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[5]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Acacia leptopetala". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ Maslin, Bruce R. Kodela, Phillip G. (ed.). "Acacia leptopetala". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ Maslin, Bruce R. "Acacia leptopetala". Australian Biological Resources Study. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Acacia leptopetala". World Wide Wattle. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Acacia leptopetala". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ↑ "Acacia leptopetala". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ Bentham, George (1855). "Plantae Muellerianae: Mimoseae". Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde. 26 (5): 619–620. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 245. ISBN 9780645629538.