Acacia cassicula

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Acacia cassicula
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. cassicula
Binomial name
Acacia cassicula
Acacia cassiculaDistMap167.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms [1]

Racosperma cassiculum(R.S.Cowan & Maslin) Pedley

Acacia cassicula is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to an area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with oblong to egg-shaped phyllodes with the narrower end towards the base, spherical heads of yellow flowers, and linear, papery, curved or coiled, sticky pods.

Contents

Description

Acacia cassicula is a spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–2.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 8 ft 2 in) and has branchlets that are often sticky near the tips. The phyllodes are inclined, more or less asymmetrical, oblong to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) long, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) wide and glabrous, with two main longitudinal veins and a gland 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) above the base of the phyllodes. The flowers are borne in a spherical head in axils on a peduncle 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long with a persisting egg-shaped bract 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long on the peduncle. Each head is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter with 22 to 30 yellow flowers. Flowering occurs in August and September and the pods are linear, strongly curved or coiled, up to 70 mm (2.8 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide, papery and glabrous containing oblong, dark brown, glossy seeds 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

Acacia cassicula was first formally described in 1990 by Richard Cowan and Bruce Maslin from specimens collected 12.8 km (8.0 mi) east of Gnowangerup by Ken Newbey in 1964. [3] [7] The specific epithet (cassicula) means 'a small net' or 'a cobweb', referring to the secondary veins of the phyllodes. [3] [8]

Distribution and habitat

This species of wattle usually grows in woodland in sandy or granitic loam, and occurs in scattered locations between Wagin and Jerramungup in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [2] [6]

Conservation status

Acacia cassicula is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Acacia carnosula". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 Cowan, Richard S. Reid, Jordan E.; Kodela, Phillip G. (eds.). "Acacia cassicula". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Cowan, Richard S.; Maslin, Bruce R. (1990). "Acacia Miscellany 1. Some oligoneurous species of Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae: Section Plurinerves) from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 7 (2): 187–189. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Acacia cassicula". World Wide Wattle. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Acacia cassicula". Wattle - Acacias of Australia. Lucid Central. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Acacia cassicula". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. ↑ "Acacia cassicula". APNI. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  8. ↑ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 159. ISBN   9780958034180.
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