Acacia macradenia

Last updated

Acacia macradenia
Acacia macradenia foliage and flowers 1.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. macradenia
Binomial name
Acacia macradenia
Acacia macradeniaDistMap571.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms

Racosperma macradenium (Benth.) Pedley

Acacia macradenia is also known as the zig-zag wattle, which derives from its zig-zag stem growth pattern. Another name used to identify A. macradenia is the 'bed of rivers'. Distinguishing features include alternating phyllodes, yellow globular clusters growing at the forks of the branches and a 'zig-zag' stem. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

George Bentham described Acacia macradenia in 1848 and it still bears its original name. [2] The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek words macros "long" and adenos "gland".

It has hybridised with A. bancroftiorum in the wild, with the resulting plants resembling A. holotricha . A. macradenia has interbred with the fringed wattle ( A. fimbriata ) in cultivation. [2]

Distribution

Native to Australia, Acacia macradenia ranges across Central Queensland, Australia and is cultivated in areas around Chinchilla and Pentland. [3] However, due to its invasive growth habits, it has been spotted in parks outside its originated area such as Ipswich.

Habitat and ecology

Acacia macradenia is a shrub that grows preferably in cool climate to warm climate by sandy or gravelly areas near creeks. The cold temperature prepares and enhances a stronger flowering effect of the seeds when temperatures increase. [3] Acacia macradenia can adapt to areas affected by air pollution. In an experiment, Acacia macradenia seeds were placed in environments with different concentrations of air pollution and results show stable photosynthetic and transpiration rate relative to a non-polluted environment. [4]

Description

The branches of the Acacia macradenia plant are hairless and smooth. Generally, the younger part of the stem is green and the older parts are brown. Known as phyllodes, the leaf-likes are actually flattened leaf-stalks or petioles. Initially they are bipinnate. The darker phyllodes are typically older and longer have a lanceolate leaf shape compared to the younger phyllodes which are much smaller in size and shape. [1] The A. macradenia plant or tree can grow up to 5 m in height and 4 m spread. [3] The branches are pendulous (loosely hanging) to subpendulous and flexuose (fully bending).

The small yellow globular clusters are found at the stalk of the stem. Each globular cluster contains numerous flowering plants which can range between 35 and 50 flowers per cluster. [1] Each plant contains five petals and sepals and many stamens which gives each cluster of flowers a soft look when fully bloomed. [1] The growth of each globular cluster are weather dependent. Optimal flowering conditions favor temperatures in February through March. If there is growth, it will be indicated by areas of redness. If globular clusters do not appear, the phyllodes that are already produced will continue to grow in an alternating pattern. The fruits of the zig-zag wattle are the black pods that have lima-bean-like structure that are found on the plant. The pods are small, curved and have a smooth exterior casing. The pods appear green initially but begins to turn brown-black as temperatures increase through the spring, eventually reaching full maturation. [1] At full maturation, the pods can reach in length up to 12 cm long. Inside these pods are hard brown seeds in a shape of bean. In an experiment conducted to test the effect of seed germination vs. temperature on Acacia seeds, the results showed that seeds that were treated with hot water had higher germination compared to seeds that were treated with cooler water. [5]

Yellow clusters and phyllodes Acacia macradenia.jpg
Yellow clusters and phyllodes

Dispersal

Acacia macradenia seeds are spread naturally by birds, ants, and other animals, though the largest contributor to its dispersal are from the direct results of planting by humans. [1] It has been used in revegetation efforts and is also planted for its ornamental value, with "unusual architecture and striking floral displays". [1] Due to the high seed dispersal rate of A. macradenia, its growth habits could potentially classify the species as invasive; it continues to inhabit and dominate new areas across Australia. Australia has no law to inhibit the spread of A. macradenia. [1] The successful growing habits of A. macradenia seem to be encouraged by the hard-shelled seeds' ability to survive and outlive other invasive Acacia species in Australia. [6]

Cultivation

Acacia macradenia prefers a well-drained situation, preferably in full sun. Successful cultivation has been recorded in coastal areas in eastern Australia from Townsville south to Melbourne. However, plants have succumbed to heavy frosts in some inland locations such as Canberra. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Acacia cultriformis</i> Species of legume

Acacia cultriformis, known as the knife-leaf wattle, dogtooth wattle, half-moon wattle or golden-glow wattle, is a perennial tree or shrub of the genus Acacia native to Australia. It is widely cultivated, and has been found to have naturalised in Asia, Africa, North America, New Zealand and South America. A. cultriformis grows to a height of about 4 m (13 ft) and has triangle-shaped phyllodes. The yellow flowers appear from August to November in its natural range. Its attractive foliage and bright flowers make it a popular garden plant.

<i>Acacia pycnantha</i> Golden wattle of southeastern Australia

Acacia pycnantha, most commonly known as the golden wattle, is a tree of the family Fabaceae native to southeastern Australia. It grows to a height of 8 m (26 ft) and has phyllodes instead of true leaves. Sickle-shaped, these are between 9 and 15 cm long, and 1–3.5 cm wide. The profuse fragrant, golden flowers appear in late winter and spring, followed by long seed pods. Plants are cross-pollinated by several species of honeyeater and thornbill, which visit nectaries on the phyllodes and brush against flowers, transferring pollen between them. An understorey plant in eucalyptus forest, it is found from southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, through Victoria and into southeastern South Australia.

<i>Acacia cyclops</i> Species of plant

Acacia cyclops, commonly known as coastal wattle, cyclops wattle, one-eyed wattle, red-eyed wattle, redwreath acacia, western coastal wattle, rooikrans, rooikrans acacia, is a coastal shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae. Native to Australia, it is distributed along the west coast of Western Australia as far north as Leeman, and along the south coast into South Australia. The Noongar peoples of Western Australia know the plant as wilyawa or woolya wah.

<i>Acacia implexa</i> Species of plant

Acacia implexa, commonly known as lightwood or hickory wattle, is a fast-growing Australian tree, the timber of which is used for furniture making. The wood is prized for its finish and strength. The foliage was used to make pulp and dye cloth.

<i>Acacia aphylla</i> Species of legume

Acacia aphylla, commonly known as the leafless rock wattle, twisted desert wattle or live wire, is a species of Acacia which is endemic to an area around Perth in Western Australia

<i>Acacia binervata</i> Species of shrub

Acacia binervata, commonly known as two-veined hickory, is a shrub or tree that is endemic to eastern Australia.

<i>Acacia myrtifolia</i> Species of plant

Acacia myrtifolia, known colloquially as myrtle wattle, red stem wattle or red-stemmed wattle, is a species of Acacia native to coastal areas of southern and eastern Australia.

<i>Acacia concurrens</i> Species of legume

Acacia concurrens, commonly known as curracabah or black wattle, is a shrub native to Queensland in eastern Australia.

<i>Acacia howittii</i> Species of legume

Acacia howittii, commonly known as sticky wattle or Howitt's wattle, is a tree species that is endemic to Victoria, Australia.

<i>Acacia lineata</i> Species of legume

Acacia lineataA.Cunn. ex G.Don, commonly known as streaked wattle or narrow lined-leaved wattle, occurs naturally inland eastern Australia. The genus Acacia is the largest genus of flowering plants in Australia, containing around 1000 species throughout a diverse range of environments from coast to desert.

<i>Acacia pubescens</i> Species of legume

Acacia pubescens, also known as the downy wattle, is a species of wattle found in the Sydney Basin in eastern New South Wales. The downy wattle is classified as vulnerable; much of its habitat has vanished with the growth of the city of Sydney.

<i>Acacia adoxa</i> Species of legume

Acacia adoxa, commonly known as the grey-whorled wattle, is a species of plant in the legume family that is native to northern Australia.

<i>Acacia spondylophylla</i> Species of legume

Acacia spondylophylla, commonly known as curry wattle or spine-leaf wattle, is a small, flat topped shrub native to central and western Australia. The leaves, which are arranged on spaced whorls around the stem, have a distinctive curry-like smell.

<i>Acacia willdenowiana</i> Species of legume

Acacia willdenowiana is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia. The plant is also commonly known as wattle grass, grass wattle or two-winged acacia. It is native to the south west of Western Australia.

<i>Acacia dictyophleba</i> Species of plant

Acacia dictyophleba, also known as the sandhill wattle, waxy wattlefeather veined wattle, and spear tree, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae. The Nyangumarta peoples know the plant as Langkur or Lungkun; the Thalanyji know it as Jabandi; and the Pintupi know it as mulyati.

<i>Acacia iteaphylla</i> Species of plant

Acacia iteaphylla, commonly known as Flinders Range wattle, Port Lincoln wattle, winter wattle and willow-leaved wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to South Australia.

<i>Acacia conferta</i> Species of legume

Acacia conferta, commonly known as crowded-leaf wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to eastern Australia.

<i>Acacia gladiiformis</i> Species of legume

Acacia gladiiformis, commonly known as sword wattle or sword-leaf wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to parts of eastern Australia.

<i>Acacia saxicola</i> Species of legume

Acacia saxicola, commonly known as Mount Maroon wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to eastern Australia.

<i>Acacia caroleae</i> Species of plant

Acacia caroleae, also known as Carol's wattle or narrow leaf currawong, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is native to north eastern Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Biosecurity Queensland (2011). "Factsheet: Acacia macradenia". Weeds of Australia: Biosecurity Queensland Edition. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Acacia macradenia Benth". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  3. 1 2 3 Townsend, Keith (August 2010). "Acacia macradenia". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  4. Dazhi, Wen; Zhu Jianyun; Cao Honglin; Zhang Deqiang; Ye Yongchang; Liu Songsong; Li Gulohui (2002–2004). "Responses of the three acacia species seedlings exposed to short-term air pollution". Ecologic Science. ISSN   1008-8873 . Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  5. Clemens, J; P.G. Jones; N.H. Gilbert (1977). "Effects of Seed Treatments on Germination in Acacia" (PDF). Australian Journal of Botany. 25 (3): 269–76. doi:10.1071/bt9770269 . Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  6. Novie, Sheldon (July 2011). "zig-zag wattle (Acacia macradenia)" (PDF). weedwatch. technigro. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  7. Simmons, Marion (1987). Acacias of Australia - Volume 1. Australia: Nelson. p. 176. ISBN   0170071790.