Acacia glaucicaesia

Acacia glaucicaesia
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. glaucicaesia
Binomial name
Acacia glaucicaesia
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]
  • ? Acacia aff. victoriae (E.E.Clement s.n.)
  • Acacia glabriflora Maiden & Blakely nom. illeg.
  • Racosperma glaucocaesium (Domin) Pedley

Acacia glaucicaesia is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the north-west of Western Australia. It is a glabrous shrub or tree with branchlets covered with a white, powdery bloom, elliptic to narrowly elliptic or lance-shaped phyllodes, spherical heads of pale yellow flowers and narrowly oblong, papery pods covered with a powdery bloom.

Description

Acacia glaucicaesia is a glabrous shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in), sometimes up to 7 m (23 ft) and has branchlets covered with a white, powdery bloom. Its phyllodes are usually elliptic to narrowly elliptic or lance-shaped, 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) long, 7–13 mm (0.28–0.51 in) wide and glaucous without a prominent midrib. There are spiny stipules at the base of the phyllodes on young plants, later minute tooth-like projections. The flowers are borne in many spherical heads in racemes up to 60 mm (2.4 in) long on peduncles 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long, each head with 35 to 50 pale yellow flowers. Flowering occurs from July to October, and the fruit is narrowly oblong, up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long and 12–13 mm (0.47–0.51 in) wide, papery and covered with a powdery bloom. The seeds are oblong to egg-shaped, 4.5–5.0 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and slightly shiny, brown to black with a small aril.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy

Acacia glaucicaesia was first formally described in 1926 by the botanist Karel Domin in Bibliotheca Botanica from specimens collected by Emile Clement.[5] The specific epithet (glaucicaesia) means 'bluish-grey'.[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of wattle is known only from a few scattered localities between the western part of the Pilbara regions of Western Australia, commonly forming almost pure stands on floodplains in sandy, clay or loamy soils.[7]

Conservation status

Acacia glaucicaesia is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Acacia glaucicaesia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  2. ^ Maslin, Bruce R. Kodela, Phillip G. (ed.). "Acacia glaucicaesia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Acacia glaucocaesia". World Wide Wattle. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Acacia glaucocaesia". Australian Biological Resources Study. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Acacia glaucicaesia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  6. ^ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 211. ISBN 9780645629538.
  7. ^ a b "Acacia glaucicaesia". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.