Acacia tenuissima | |
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A. tenuissima habitat | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Clade: | Mimosoideae |
Genus: | Acacia |
Species: | A. tenuissima |
Binomial name | |
Acacia tenuissima | |
Occurrence data from AVH |
Acacia tenuissima, commonly known as narrow-leaved wattle, [1] broom wattle, [1] minyana, [2] slender mulga [3] or slender wattle, [4] is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae endemic to temperate and tropical areas [2] of Australia. Indigenous Australians the Kurrama peoples know the plant as Janangungu and the Banyjima know it as Murruthurru. [1]
The slender and erect shrub typically grows to a height of 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 ft) [5] although it can reach up to 4 m (13 ft) and can possess multiple stems. It has few to many slender and spreading to erect stems growing from ground level producing an open or dense crown. Smooth grey bark at the base with pale brown to dull reddish on the upper branches. The dull grey-green terete phyllodes are quite slender with a length of 6 to 17 centimetres (2 to 7 in) and a width of 0.7 to 1.3 millimetres (0.03 to 0.05 in) and have numerous fine parallel longitudinal nerves. [1] It blooms from April to August producing yellow flowers. [5] The simple racemose inflorescences are not prolific. They appear singly within the axils of the phyllodes. The flower-spikes are 5 to 15 mm (0.20 to 0.59 in) in length and are densely flowered with pale yellow to light golden coloured flowers. Following flowering greyish-brown straight to moderately curved seed pods form that can become irregularly twisted or coiled [1] and scaly with age. [6] The pods are up to about 9 cm (4 in) in length and contain shiny dark brown [1] to black [6] seeds that are 2.5 to 4 mm (0.10 to 0.16 in) in length with a width of around 2 mm (0.08 in). The seeds are relatively large and have an orange-to-yellow aril that are found to attract birds. Mature seeds are formed between September and November. [1]
The shrub resembles Acacia orthocarpa and is also similar to Acacia exilis and Acacia macdonnelliensis subsp. teretifolia. [6]
The species was first formally described by the botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1859 as part of the work Contributiones ad Acaciarum Australiae Cognitionem as published in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany. It was reclassified in 1987 by Leslie Pedley as Racosperma tenuissimum then transferred back to the genus Acacia in 2006. Other synonyms include; Acacia luerssenii, Acacia pityoides, Acacia xylocarpa var. tenuissima and Acacia xylocarpa var. xylocarpa. [7]
The species name is taken from Latin words tenuis meaning thin and -issimus meaning very, which refers to the slender, terete foliage that is characteristic of the plant. [1]
A. tenuissima is sometimes found with and is closely related to Acacia adsurgens , and is also related to Acacia exilis . [1]
It is native to arid areas of inland Australia. In South Australia it is found in northern western parts with a small population also centred around Lake Eyre in the east. [4] It is found through much of the central and southern parts of the Northern Territory and in central Queensland. It also has a scattered distribution through the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia. [5] It is often found along ephemeral watercourses, on low undulating country, along rocky slopes and on stabilized inland dunes and spinifex plains. It can grow in sandy, loamy, clay and rocky soils. [1] It is usually part of Eucalyptus woodland communities and is often with spinifex. [2]
Seeds for the plant are commercially available [8] [9] and can be used in gardens as an attractive slender shrub for arid areas that are good bird attractors. [1] To grow well, a sunny position in well-drained soil is required. [10] Seeds need scarification [2] or hot water treatment prior to planting. [3] The seeds were collected by Indigenous Australians from the Pilbara region to be eaten and used in the making of damper. [1]
Acacia kempeana, commonly known as wanderrie wattle, witchetty bush or granite wattle, is a shrub in subfamily Mimosoideae of family Fabaceae that is endemic to arid parts of central and western Australia.
Acacia tumida, known colloquially as pindan wattle, spear wattle or wongai, is a species of Acacia native to northern and western Australia.
Acacia spondylophylla, commonly known as curry wattle or spine-leaf wattle, is a small, flat topped shrub native to central and western Australia. The leaves, which are arranged on spaced whorls around the stem, have a distinctive curry-like smell.
Acacia acradenia, commonly known as Velvet Hill wattle and silky wattle, is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. It is native to northern and central Australia. The Indigenous Australian group the Nyangumarta peoples know it as walypuna the Alyawarr call it ampwey, the Jaminjung and Ngaliwurru know it as Mindiwirri, the Jaru as binbali or gundalyji, the Kaytetye as ampweye or arwele and the Warlpiri as ngardurrkura.
Acacia ancistrocarpa, commonly known as fitzroy wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. The shrub is also known as fish hook wattle, pindan wattle and shiny leaved wattle.
Acacia aptaneura, commonly known as slender mulga, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. It is native to central and western parts of Australia.
Acacia arida, commonly known as arid wattle or false melaleuca, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae native to Western Australia.
Acacia clelandii, also known as umbrella mulga, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is native to arid parts of central Australia.
Acacia fecunda, commonly known as Mosquito Creek wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to north western Australia.
Acacia kelleri is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to north western Australia.
Acacia orthocarpa, also commonly known as Pilbara weeping wattle, needle-leaf wattle or straight-podded wattle, is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to tropical parts of northern Australia. The indigenous Nyangumarta peoples know it as yartupu.
Acacia paraneura, commonly known as weeping mulga, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. It is native to arid regions of Australia. The Indigenous Kurrama peoples know the tree as warlun.
Acacia ptychophylla is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae the is endemic to arid areas of north western Australia.
Acacia rhodophloia, commonly known as minni ritchi or western red mulga, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to a large area of arid central western Australia. The Indigenous group the Kurrama peoples know the plant as mantaru.
Acacia stipuligera is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. It is native to arid and tropical parts of northern Australia.
Acacia wanyu, commonly known as wanyu or silver-leaf mulga, is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae that is endemic to arid parts of western Australia. The Kurrama people know it as Murruturu or Yirritiri while the Nyangumarta people know it as Wayartany.
Acacia dictyophleba, also known as the sandhill wattle, waxy wattle and feather veined wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae. The Nyangumarta peoples know the plant as Langkur or Lungkun and the Thalanyji know it as Jabandi.
Acacia gregorii, commonly known as Gregory's wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae native to 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 oswaldii, commonly known as boree, umbrella wattle, umbrella bush, whyacka, middia, miljee, nella and curly yarran, is a shrub or tree of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves.