Acacia collegialis

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Southern rock wattle
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. collegialis
Binomial name
Acacia collegialis
Synonyms [1]

Acacia sp. Norseman (B.Archer 1554) WA Herbarium

Acacia collegialis, also known as southern rock wattle, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to inland Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub or tree with narrowly elliptic phyllodes, oblong to shortly cylindrical spikes of golden yellow flowers, and linear to narrowly oblong, thinly leathery to crust-like pods.

Contents

Description

Acacia collegialis is a spreading shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 2.5–6 m (8 ft 2 in – 19 ft 8 in) and has fibrous, dark gray, fissured bark. Its phyllodes are narrowly elliptic, 50–85 mm (2.0–3.3 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide with a prominent central vein. The flowers are borne in oblong to shortly cylindrical spikes on peduncles 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long, each spike 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long with golden yellow flowers. Flowering occurs from April to August and the pods are linear to narrowly oblong, thinly leathery to crust-like, 40–80 mm (1.6–3.1 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. The seeds are mostly oblong, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long with a creamy white aril. [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Acacia collegialis was first formally described in 2014 by Bruce Maslin from specimens collected on Cherry Tree Island on the western sie of Lake Cowan about 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Norseman in 2013. [3] [6] The specific epithet (collegialis) means 'collegial', acknowledging the assistance and advice the author received from colleagues. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Southern rock wattle occurs from Coolgardie to Karonie about 100 km (62 mi) east of Kalgoorlie and south to near Norseman, where it grows in shallow sandy clay-loam in open tall shrubland or low woodland, [4] in the Coolgardie and Murchison bioregions of inland Western Australia. [2]

Conservation status

Acacia collegialis is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Acacia collegialis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Acacia collegialis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 Maslin, Bruce R. (2014). "Miscellaneous new species of Acacia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) from south-west Western Australia". Nuytsia. 24: 149–152. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Maslin, Bruce R. Kodela, Phillip G. (ed.). "Acacia collegialis". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Acacia collegialis". Australian Biological Resources Study. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Acacia collegialis". APNI. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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