Citation: G. Bentham, Linnaea 26:611 (1855).

Derivation: rhigelos (Gr.)mrigid; phyllum (Gr.)—leaf.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: dagger-leaved wattle

Description:
Rigid, prickly, spreading, intricately branched, dark green shrubs 2-3 m high and usually wider than high; branches terete, reddish-brown, slightly pubescent; bark brown slightly roughened and flaky at the base of stems. Stipules small rigid, short, spiny.

Phyllodes linear-lanceolate, 1-2.5 em long, c. 2 mm broad, flat, rigid, sessile, divaricate, striate, glabrous, 2-3 prominent raised longitudinal veins and a few less prominent veins in between, apex tapering into a reddish-brown pungent point.

Inflorescences simple, axillary, usually twin; spikes rather sparse, shorter than phyllodes, cylindrical to almost globular, bright yellow; receptacles glabrous, 3-10-flowered; peduncles slightly pubescent, 2-5 mm long.

Legumes linear, 5-8 cm long, 2-3 mm broad, much curved and finally loosely coiled, raised over the seeds, brown, margins slightly constricted between seeds. Seeds longitudinal in legume; funicle short with one or two folds beneath seeds, thickening into a yellowish conical aril which covers the base of the seed.

Distribution:  Small occurrence on the Eyre Peninsula and Murray region in open scrub associated with Eucalyptus socialis and E. gracilis. Soils; hard alkaline red duplex or grey-brown calcareous loam. A collection of this species has recently (1991) been made from Franklyn Station, 15 km east of Terowie. This is a wide disjunction from other known localities. Rainfall 300-400 mm. Also N.S.W. Cultivation. Not known in cultivation. S.Aust.: EP, MU. Conservation status: Lang & Kraehenbuehl (1987) consider this species to be Rare to Vulnerable and by Briggs & Leigh (1988) to be Rare but adequately reserved. Flowering time: September — October.

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

Biology: No text

Related taxa: Acacia colletioides (sp. 74) has a similar habit, but is distributed over a much wider area and differs in having terete phyllodes with ca. 8 prominent veins and globular flower-heads. A. oxycedrus (sp. 97) is similar as to phyllodes but differs markedly in the longer dense flower spikes. A. rupicola (sp. 28) has 1 prominent vein and globular flower-heads.

Taxonomic notes: A single collection of Amyema preissii, wire-leaved mistletoe is the only mistletoe so far recorded on Acacia rhigiophylla.

Author: Not yet available

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