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Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet

Family: Fabaceae
Acacia cyperophylla

photograph

Citation: G. Bentham, Fl. Aust. 2:400 (1864).

Derivation: cyperus— Latin from Greek kypeiros, species of sedge; phyllon (Gr.)—a leaf.

Synonymy: Racosperma cyperophyllum (F. Muell. Ex Benth.)Pedley, Austrobaileya 2:347 (1987).

Common name: red mulga, mineritchie

Description:
Tall shrubs or small shapely trees to 8 m high, branching near ground level or up to one metre above; branches reddish-brown, terete; bark characteristically thin, curly, reddish, forming numerous small tight curls along the stems.

Phyllodes 8-20 cm long, 1-2 mm diam., usually curved, rigid, terete, slightly pubescent, numerous fine longitudinal parallel veins only visible under a lens, apex tapering into a pungent point; glands basal, small.

Inflorescences simple and axillary, 1-2 per axil; spikes moderately dense, interrupted, pale yellow, 1-2 cm long; peduncles puberulous, 10-15 mm long; flowers 5-merous (sepals united).

Legumes broad-linear, 5-10 cm long, 6-7 mm broad, flat, thick, straight or slightly curved, margins thickened, viscid. Seeds longitudinal or oblique; funicle filiform, with one or two folds below the seeds and thickening into a small aril.

Distribution:  A rather limited occurrence in the Lake Eyre region (northern part). It is found in small scattered populations which are always restricted to stony watercourses and along creek banks in open woodland formation, often associated with Acacia cambagei. Soils; mainly grey cracking self-mulching clay. Rainfall 150 mm. Also N.T., Qld and N.S.W.

Flowering time: At irregular periods, generally after good rains.


SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Related taxa: Red mulga is somewhat similar to three other species of mulga in S.Aust., A. aneura (sp. 111), A. cibaria (sp. 112) and A. ramulosa (sp. 107). The phyllodes and the flowers of these species are similar and they can be confused unless fruiting material is available or observation of habit can be made in the field.

Taxonomic notes: Only two mistletoes are recorded on A. cyperophylla in the State Herbarium. The grey-leaved Amyema maidenii, pale-leaved mistletoe is the more common with a single record of Lysiana murrayi, mulga mistletoe.

Cultivation: Useful for planting in inland arid areas, able to withstand droughts and windy conditions. The attractive reddish curly bark is an unusual feature. Moderate growth rate, not known much in cultivation as yet.

Author: Not yet available

Source:


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