Rigid wattle | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Clade: | Mimosoideae |
Genus: | Acacia |
Species: | A. cochlearis |
Binomial name | |
Acacia cochlearis | |
Occurrence data from AVH |
Acacia cochlearis, commonly known as the rigid wattle, [1] is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves. It is native to an area along the coast from the Goldfields-Esperance to the Mid West regions of Western Australia. [2]
The bushy erect pungent shrub typically grows to a height of 0.5 to 3 metres (2 to 10 ft) with branchlets that are ribbed, glabrous or sparsely appressed-puberulous with straight hairs. Stipules are present only on young fresh shoots. The trunk and branches have smooth green or brown bark. The leathery leaves [3] have phyllodes or are sessile, patent to ascending, inequilateral basally, subulate-linear, elliptic in shape and straight to recurved. They are mostly 2 to 5 centimetres (0.8 to 2.0 in) in length and 2 to 10 millimetres (0.08 to 0.39 in) wide. [4]
It blooms from July to October and produces yellow flowers. The inflorescences are simple with 1–3 per axil and peduncles which are 4 to 12 mm (0.16 to 0.47 in) long, Heads are globular with a 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) diameter, containing 30-50-flowers that have a deep golden color. [4] The flowers are pollinated by many different species of insects. A moderate number of seeds will be produced during favourable seasons. The green-brown pod which forms later is a linear shape and is slightly raised over the seeds. [3] The pod is approximately 50 mm (2.0 in) long and contains between 10 and 15 of mostly viable black seeds. [5] The valves of the pod will recurve once the seed is shed, usually in December. [3]
The species was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1807 as Mimosa cochlearis as part of the work Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen . It was then reclassifed as Acacia cochlearis by Heinrich Wendland in 1820 as part of the work Commentatio de Acaciis aphyllis. It was reclassified in 2003 by Leslie Pedley as Racosperma cochleare then transferred back to genus Acacia in 2006. The species can be confused with Acacia melanoxylon . [6]
A. cochlearis grows in sandy soils and is found in coastal areas on sandplains and sand dunes. [2] It grows in coastal areas from Lancelin to Israelite Bay, where it is found growing as solitary plants or in dense thickets. [5]
The shrub is sold as a suitable medium size shrub for gardens in coastal regions or areas with sandy soils. [1] [7] It is also used to stabilise dune or coastal areas. A. cochlearis establishes quickly and reliably in stabilised soils. Although it is must be protected from high winds it is utilised in mixed plantings with other species such as Acacia rostellifera and Scaevola crassifolia . It is an indicator of good quality dunes as the species is vulnerable to disturbance once established. [5]
A. cochlearis can be grown from seed. The seeds should be soaked in hot water or lightly abraded with fine sandpaper prior to planting. They should be sown in free draining soil and can benefit from the addition of disease-free soil from existing plants to transfer the Rhizobium bacteria that are important in nitrogen fixation. [5] Plants require a position in full sun. [1]
Acacia cyclops, commonly known as coastal wattle, cyclops wattle, one-eyed wattle, red-eyed wattle, redwreath acacia, western coastal wattle, rooikrans, rooikans 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 Jurien Bay, and along the south coast into South Australia. The Noongar peoples of Western Australia know the plant as wilyawa or woolya wah.
Acacia ligulata is a species of Acacia, a dense shrub widespread in all states of mainland Australia. It is not considered rare or endangered.
Acacia longifolia is a species of Acacia native to southeastern Australia, from the extreme southeast of Queensland, eastern New South Wales, eastern and southern Victoria, and southeastern South Australia. Common names for it include long-leaved wattle, acacia trinervis, aroma doble, golden wattle, coast wattle, sallow wattle and Sydney golden wattle. It is not listed as being a threatened species, and is considered invasive in Portugal and South Africa. In the southern region of Western Australia, it has become naturalised and has been classed as a weed by out-competing indigenous species. It is a tree that grows very quickly reaching 7–10 m in five to six years.
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.
Acacia fimbriata, commonly known as the fringed wattle or Brisbane golden wattle, is a species of Acacia that is native along much of the east coast of Australia.
Acacia verticillata is a perennial shrub to small tree native to south eastern Australia.
Acacia truncata, commonly known as the angle leaved wattle or west coast wattle, is a coastal shrub in the family Fabaceae, with a native distribution along the southwest coast of Western Australia. A specimen of this wattle was part of an early European botanical collection, perhaps the first from Australia.
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.
Acacia desertorum is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to western Australia.
Acacia heteroneura is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to western Australia.
Acacia oncinocarpa is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to northern Australia.
Acacia ramulosa, commonly known as horse mulga or bowgada wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae endemic to arid areas of Australia.
Acacia anceps, commonly known as Port Lincoln wattle or the two edged wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae.
Acacia crassiuscula is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae found along the south coast of Western Australia.
Acacia littorea, also known as the shark tooth wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae.
Acacia colletioides, commonly known as wait-a-while, pin bush and spine bush, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is native to Australia.
Acacia densiflora is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is endemic to an area of south western Australia.
Acacia undosa is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is endemic to an area of south western Australia.
Acacia amoena, commonly known as boomerang wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to parts of eastern Australia.
Acacia elongata, also known as swamp wattle or slender wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is endemic to coastal areas of eastern Australia.