Acacia alata

Acacia alata (common name: winged wattle) is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia.

Acacia alata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Clade: Mimosoideae
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. alata
Binomial name
Acacia alata
Occurrence data from AVH
A. alata habit
A. alata foliage

Description

Acacia alata is a frost-hardy, large, multi-branched shrub, typically growing to a height of 0.3 to 2.1 metres (1.0 to 6.9 ft)[1] and 1 m (3.3 ft) across. Its branchlets are often bent alternately in different directions.

The phyllodes (modified petioles) are reduced in size and give the impression of cladodes (branches that resemble leaves). The wings of these phyllodes are usually 2 to 20 millimetres (0.08 to 0.79 in) wide and 5 to 70 mm (0.20 to 2.76 in) long. Furthermore, each phyllode extends into a spine. Tolerate frosts to −7 °C (19 °F).[2]

A. alata blooms between April and December.[1] The inflorescence is simple with mostly two flowers per axil, but sometimes distributed in racemes. The globular heads contain 4 to 15 flowers. These flowers can be white, cream-coloured or golden yellow. The last flower form is preferred for cultivation.[2]

Classification

The species was first formally described by the botanist Robert Brown in 1813 in William Townsend Aiton's work Hortus Kewensis.[3]

Four varieties are recognized :

  • Acacia alata var. alata
  • Acacia alata var. biglandulosa
  • Acacia alata var. platyptera
  • Acacia alata var. tetrantha

Distribution

The species is distributed throughout the west coast Western Australia from north of Geraldton to south around Albany. It grows in a variety of soils types in areas near streams, rocky hills, salt pans and clay flats.[1]

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See also

List of Acacia species

References
  1. "Acacia alata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  2. "Australian National Botanic Gardens - Growing Acacia". anbg.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  3. "Acacia alata R.Br". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
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