Acacia grisea
| Acacia grisea | |
|---|---|
Priority Four — Rare Taxa (DEC) | |
| 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. grisea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia grisea | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Racosperma griseum (S.Moore) Pedley | |
Acacia grisea is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a subshrub with bipinnate leaves and a spherical head of golden yellow flowers in leaf axils, and hairy pods.
Description
Acacia grisea is a subshrub that typically grows to a height of 10–40 cm (3.9–15.7 in) and has branchlets covered with minute hairs. Its leaves are bipinnate on a rachis 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long. There are two pairs of pinnae, the lower pair 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long with two or three pairs of pinnules, the outer pair with 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long with four to seven pairs of pinnules, the pinnules more or less oblong, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. The pinnules are grey-green with a gland on the rachis at the base of the pinnae. The flowers are borne in a leaf axil on a glabrous peduncle 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long, each head with 16 to 25 golden yellow flowers. Flowering occurs from June to August, and the pods are 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long, 5 mm (0.20 in) wide and hairy. The seeds are oblong to elliptic, 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long.[2][3][4][5]
This species of wattle is closely related to A. browniana which is found closer to the coast.[3]
Taxonomy
Acacia grisea was first formally described in 1920 by Spencer Le Marchant Moore in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany from specimens collected east of Katanning by Frederick Stoward.[6][7] The specific epithet (grisea) means 'grey' or 'pearl-grey', and refers to the hairs on the branches.[8]
Distribution and habitat
This species of wattle grows in gravelly loam and is restricted to the areas between Kukerin, Kojonup and Broomehill in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][3][5]
Conservation status
Acacia grisea is listed as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[5] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Acacia grisea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ a b Maslin, Bruce R. "Acacia grisea". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Acacia grisea". Wattle - Acacias of Australia. Lucid Central. 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Acacia grisea". World Wide Wattle. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Acacia grisea". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Acacia grisea". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ leMoore, Spencer (1920). "A contribution to the Flora of Australia". Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 45. 45: 174. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 215. ISBN 9780645629538.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 15 February 2026.