Acacia calamifolia

Acacia calamifolia, commonly known as wallowa[1] or reed-leaf wattle,[2] is a shrub or tree belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae endemic to south eastern parts of Australia.

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

Description

The rounded shrub typically grows to a height of 2 to 4 metres (7 to 13 ft)[3] with some individuals reaching as high as 10 m (33 ft)[1] the width of the plant is usually 2 to 4 m (6 ft 7 in to 13 ft 1 in).[4] The narrowly linear, green to grey-green, terete phyllodes have a length of 2 to 10.5 cm (0.79 to 4.13 in) and a width of 1 to 1.5 mm (0.039 to 0.059 in). The phyllodes have a curved point, are glabrous and sometimes scurfy with four non-prominent nerves.[3] It blooms between October and November producing yellow flowers.[2] The inflorescences are found on two to eight headed racemes. The spherical to obloid shaped flower-heads contain 28 to 46 golden pale yellow to golden flowers. The woody, wrinkled seed pods form after flowering have a moniliform shape, resembling a string of beads, with a length of up to 15 cm (5.9 in) and a width of 3 to 6 mm (0.12 to 0.24 in). The dull dark brown to black oblong-elliptic shaped seeds have a length of 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in).[3]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the botanist Robert Sweet in John Lindley's work Edwards's Botanical Register in 1824. The species was reclassified as Racosperma calamifolium by Leslie Pedley in 2003 then transferred ack to the genus Acacia in 2006. Other synonyms include; Acacia microcarpa var. linearis, Acacia pulverulenta and Acacia uncinata.[5] The specific epithet is taken from the Latin words calamus meaning reed and folium meaning leaf in reference to the shape of the phyllodes.[6]

Distribution

The shrub is found in South Australia from the Flinders Ranges in the north south to the Tothill Ranges in the northern Mount Lofty Ranges and east to Broken Hill and central parts of New South Wales. It is often a part of woodland and open scrubland communities where it grows in a variety of soil types different soils.[3] It is also found in north western Victoria.[1]

Cultivation

The shrub is planted as medium-sized ornamental wattle that is suitable as a low shelter plant. It can tolerate full sun or part shade and prefers a well-drained soil but can endure short periods of water logging. It is drought and frost tolerant to −7 °C (19 °F).[4] It makes good habitat for bird life and the seeds are and an important part of the Mallee fowl's diet.[4]

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See also

List of Acacia species

References
  1. "Acacia calamifolia Wallowa". Wattle - genus Acacia. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  2. "Acacia calamifolia Sweet ex Lindl". PlantNet. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  3. "Acacia calamifolia". World Wide Wattle. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. "Acacia calamifolia Wallowa". Plant Selector. Botanic Gardens of South Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. "Acacia calamifolia Sweet ex Lindl". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  6. "Acacia calamifolia (Leguminosae) Wallowa". Seeds of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
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