| Chalky wattle | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Clade: | Mimosoideae |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. cretacea |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia cretacea | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Acacia cretacea, also known as chalky wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to South Australia.
The shrub or small tree usually has a single stem and can grow to a height of 4 m (13 ft) and has a spindly habit with an open crown. It has smooth grey or reddish-brown bark found on the on lower trunk. The grey to medium green coloured phyllodes have a narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate shape with a length of up to around 10 cm (3.9 in) and a width of 18 mm (0.71 in). It blooms intermittently between July and January producing inflorescences containing 5 to 14 spherical coloured flower-heads. [1] The flower-heads have a diameter of 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) and contain 35 to 45 densely packed lemon yellow to golden yellow coloured flowers. [2] The straight to slightly curved pale brown coloured seed pods that form after flowering have a length of up to 9 cm (3.5 in) and a width of 6 mm (0.24 in) and contain black, oblong to ovoid shaped seeds with a length of around 7 mm (0.28 in) and a width of 4 mm (0.16 in). [1]
The species was first formally described by the botanists Bruce Maslin and D. J. E. Whibley in 1987 as part of the work The taxonomy of some South Australian Acacia section Phyllodineae species (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) as published in the journal Nuytsia . It was reclassified as Racosperma cretaceum by Leslie Pedley in 2003 then transferred back to the genus Acacia in 2005. [3] The specific epithet is taken from the Latin word cretaceus which means chalk white in reference to the chalky coloured branchlets, flowers and seed pods. [1] It belongs to the Acacia microbotrya group of wattles found on the Eye peninsula. It is also closely related to Acacia toondulya and similar in appearance to Acacia gillii . [2]
It is found on the southern and eastern sides of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia [1] on sandplains and gently undulating hills to the north of Cowell [2] where it grows in red sandy soils as a part of mallee and low shrubland communities. [1] The wattle is commonly associated with Eucalyptus incrassata , Melaleuca uncinata and Triodia irritans . It is restricted to an area approximately 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi) and has an estimated population a few hundred to 5,000 individual plants. The shrub also situated on roadsides and in adjacent farming land. [4]
Acacia notabilis, known colloquially as mallee golden wattle, Flinders wattle or stiff golden wattle, is a species of Acacia native to Australia.
Acacia atkinsiana, commonly known as Atkin's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae endemic to Australia. The indigenous peoples of the area where the shrub is found, the Kurrama peoples, know the shrub as Bilari or Pilarri.
Acacia blaxellii, also known as Blaxell's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to Western Australia.
Acacia chartacea is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to an area along the west coast of Western Australia.
Acacia concolorans is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to Western Australia.
Acacia errabunda is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to Western Australia.
Acacia heterochroa is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to south western Australia.
Acacia lanceolata is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae and is endemic to a small area of western Australia.
Acacia profusa is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to south western Australia.
Acacia quinquenervia is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to south western Australia
Acacia ryaniana is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to an area along the west coast of Australia.
Acacia scalena is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to a small area in western Australia.
Acacia alcockii, also known as Alcock's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to South Australia.
Acacia gillii, commonly known as Gill's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to parts of southern Australia.
Acacia halliana is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to parts of south eastern Australia.
Acacia pickardii, commonly known as Pickard's wattle or birds nest wattle, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to eastern Australia. It is listed as a vulnerable species according to Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Acacia nematophylla, commonly known as coast wallowa, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae where it is endemic to southern Australia.
Acacia provincialis, commonly known as swamp wattle or wirilda or water wattle or perennial wattle, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to southern and south eastern Australia.
Acacia quornensis, commonly known as Quorn wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to southern Australia.
Acacia simmonsiana, commonly known as Simmons wattle or desert manna wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to south eastern Australia.
