Spiny wattle | |
---|---|
Sketches of Acacia spinescens from Iconography of Australian species of Acacia and cognate genera | |
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. spinescens |
Binomial name | |
Acacia spinescens | |
Occurrence data from AVH |
Acacia spinescens, commonly known as spiny wattle, [1] is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Alatae. It is native to New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. [2]
The erect multi-branched shrub typically grows to a height of around 0.5 to 1 metre (2 to 3 ft). [3] The rigid terete branchlets are green and spiny with yellow rib striations. The usually will have few or no leaves with sometimes remaining at the base of the plant. The leaves have a curved or hooked shape with a prominent mid-vein. It flowers between July and October producing a solitary flower-spike solitary with bright yellow, globular flower-heads. It will later form dark brown seed pods with a curving and often twisted linear shape. Each pod is around 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in length with a width of 3.5 mm (0.1 in). Pods contain hard, dark brown seeds with an ovoid shape. Each seed is around 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. [1]
The species name is taken from the Latin words spina meaning thorn or spine and escens meaning beginning. The name refers to the branches ending with a sharp point or spine. [1] The species was named by George Bentham in 1842 as part of the William Jackson Hooker work Notes on Mimoseae, with a synopsis of species published in the London Journal of Botany. [4]
The species is found in a variety of soil types and ecological communities and associates with other plant species. In South Australia it is found in southern parts extending from the Great Victoria Desert in the west through to the border with Victoria in the east . It is also found on Kangaroo Island. [1] In Victoria the plant is only found in eastern areas in the mallee and goldfields regions extending north into south-western parts of New South Wales. [3]
Acacia inaequilatera, commonly known as kanji bush, baderi, camel bush, fire wattle, kanyji bush or ranji bush is a tree in the family Mimosaceae. Endemic to Australia, it is widely distributed in the semi-arid Triodia country eastwards from Karratha, Western Australia into the Northern Territory.
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 pravissima, commonly known as Ovens wattle, Oven wattle, wedge-leaved wattle and Tumut wattle, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is an evergreen shrub native to Victoria, the South West Slopes and Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia.
Acacia flexifolia, commonly known as bent-leaf wattle or small winter wattle, is a shrub species that is endemic to eastern Australia.
Acacia stenoptera, commonly known as narrow-winged wattle, is a species of wattle that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
Acacia continua, or the thorn wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Alatae. It native to New South Wales and South Australia.
Acacia amblygona, commonly known as fan wattle or fan leaf wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to Australia.
Acacia basedowii, commonly known as Basedow's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to arid parts of central Australia.
Acacia baxteri, commonly known as Baxter's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae, and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia.
Acacia iteaphylla, commonly known as Flinders Range wattle, Port Lincoln wattle, winter wattle and willow-leaved wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to South Australia.
Acacia strongylophylla, commonly known as round-leaf wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to central Australia.
Acacia teretifolia is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae. It is native to an area in the Wheatbelt, South West and Peel regions of Western Australia.
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 loxophylla is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is endemic to an area of south western Australia.
Acacia sclerophylla, commonly known as the hard-leaf wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves and is endemic to southern parts of Australia.
Acacia lasiocarpa, commonly known as Panjang or Pajang or glow wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Pulchellae that is endemic to Western Australia.
Acacia brachybotrya, commonly known as grey mulga or grey wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is endemic to Australia.
Acacia gladiiformis, commonly known as sword wattle or sword-leaf wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae that is native to parts of 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 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.