Swamp wattle | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
Genus: | Acacia |
Species: | A. elongata |
Binomial name | |
Acacia elongata Sieber ex. DC. | |
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Occurrence data from AVH |
Acacia elongata, also known as swamp wattle [1] [2] or slender wattle, [3] [2] is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is endemic to coastal areas of eastern Australia.
The shrub or small tree typically grows to a height of around 1 to 7 m (3 ft 3 in to 23 ft 0 in) and has an upright and open habit with hairy, yellow-ribbed angular branchlets. Like most species of Acacia it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. The glabrous, thinly coriaceous and evergreen phyllodes have a narrowly linear or occasionally linear-oblanceolate shape are usually mostly incurved. The phyllodes are 4 to 17 cm (1.6 to 6.7 in) in length and 1 to 7 mm (0.039 to 0.276 in) wide and have three raised distant nerves. [3] It blooms between July and October producing inflorescences that appear in groups of one to three, or sometimes as many as seven, on an axillary axis that is 1 to 15 mm (0.039 to 0.591 in) in length. Sometimes these will appear in the axils of the phyllodes. The spherical flower-heads have a diameter of 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) and contain between 20 and 40 lemon yellow to bright yellow coloured flowers. [1] Following flowering it produces straight, thinly leathery to firmly papery, brittle seed pods that are flat but are raised over each of the seeds. The pods are 3 to 11.5 cm (1.2 to 4.5 in) in length and 3 to 5 mm (0.12 to 0.20 in) wide with sparsely distributed hairs. [1]
The species was first formally described by the botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1825 as a part of the work Leguminosae. Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. It was reclassified by Leslie Pedley in 2003 as Racosperma elongatum then transferred back to genus Acacia in 2006. [4] The type specimen was collected by Franz Sieber in 1823. It is closely related to Acacia ptychoclada and superficially resembles Acacia trinervata , Acacia dawsonii and Acacia viscidula . [2] The specific epithet is taken from the Latin word elongatus meaning lengthened in reference to the long, narrow phyllodes. [5]
It is found down the east coast of Australia from around Kingscliff in the north of New South Wales down to around Eden in the south and inland to around Wagga Wagga in the west. Its range also extends into the eastern highlands region of Victoria although it has become naturalized in a few other localities in Victoria. [3] It is usually situated along watercourses and swamps [2] growing in sandy soils as a part of Eucalyptus or heathland communities. [1]
Although it is not a widely cultivated species smaller forms are sometime found in gardens. They grow quickly and flower within one or two years from seed. It is able to grow in a range of soils so long as they are reasonably moist and will manage in either full sun or dappled shade. It can be propagated by seed but requires pretreatment scarification or by soaking in boiling water. [5] The shrub is suitable for poorly drained areas, will tolerate light frosts and salt spray. [6]
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.
Acacia verticillata is a perennial shrub to small tree native to south eastern Australia.
Acacia flexifolia, commonly known as bent-leaf wattle or small winter wattle, is a shrub species that is endemic to eastern Australia.
Acacia jibberdingensis, also known as Jibberding wattle or willow-leafed wattle, is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to Western Australia.
Acacia merinthophora, also known as zig-zag wattle, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to western Australia.
Acacia hippuroides is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Lycopodiifoliae that is endemic to north western Australia
Acacia merrallii, commonly known as Merrall's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to south western and southern Australia.
Acacia oxyclada is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to western Australia.
Acacia quadrisulcata is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to Western Australia.
Acacia rossei, also known as Yellowdine wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to south western Australia.
Acacia calamifolia, commonly known as wallowa or reed-leaf wattle, is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to south eastern parts of Australia.
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.
Acacia costiniana, commonly known as Costin's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to eastern Australia.
Acacia obtusata, commonly known as blunt-leaf wattle or obtuse wattle, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to eastern Australia.
Acacia wilhelmiana, commonly known as dwarf nealie, Wilhelmi’s wattle and mist wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves native to the mallee region of central and eastern Australia.
Acacia quadrilateralis is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to north eastern Australia.
Acacia linearifolia, commonly known as stringybark wattle or narrow-leaved wattle, is a shrub or tree of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to eastern Australia.
Acacia trinervata, the three-veined wattle, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae in the legume family Fabaceae.
Acacia rhigiophylla, commonly known as dagger-leaf wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is native to southern Australia.
Acacia barattensis, commonly known as Baratta wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is endemic to a small area in South Australia where the species is considered to be rare.