Citation: J. M. Black, Trans. R.Soc. S.Aust. 36:171 (1912).

Derivation: tarculensis—refers to Tarcoola where the type specimen was collected by J. W. Mellor, June, 1912.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: steel bush

Description:
Dense, distinctly glaucous, spreading, rounded or often rather flat topped shrubs 1-3 m high and often the same or more across; branchlets angular, reddish-brown, slightly pubescent; bark grey, rough and flaky.

Phyllodes oblong to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, 2.5-5.5 cm long, 7-14 mm broad, straight or slightly curved, flat, rigid, coriaceous, glaucous, golden or silvery pubescent when young, numerous inconspicuous veins sometimes 2-3 veins more prominent than the others, margins prominent, reddish-brown, thick, crenulate, resinous, apex obtuse or acute with or without a small mucro; glands basal,

Inflorescences simple, axillary, 1-2 per axil; spikes moderately dense but becoming interrupted when mature, mid-yellow, 1.5-2.5 cm long; peduncles pubescent, 3-8 mm long; flowers 5-merous.

Legumes narrowly oblong, 6-9 cm long, 10-12 mm broad, flattish, much curved, hard, densely tomentose, finally glabrous, grey, margins thickened not constricted, apex obtuse. Seeds oblique in legume; funicle with a few folds below the aril.

Distribution:  Endemic to S.Aust. in Eyre Peninsula (northern part) and the Gairdner-Torrens regions, found on rocky hillsides and ridges, in tall open shrubland or low open woodland associated with Acacia aneura, A. cibaria and A. papyrocarpa. Soils; shallow compact loam, hard alkaline red duplex, brown calcareous earths. Rainfall 200-350 mm. S.Aust.: NW, GT, EP. Flowering time: May — August or occasionally throughout the year 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: Acacia kempeana (sp. 101) has some affinities but differs in its habit, a tall dull grey-green shrub, and by its phyllodes never having thick crenulate resinous margins.

Taxonomic notes: The only mistletoes so far collected on Acacia tarculensis have been three specimens of Amyema preissii, wire-leaved mistletoe.

Cultivation: Rarely seen in cultivation. Seedlings have been raised and planted out at the Botanic Garden, Adelaide, and these appear to be rather slow-growing.

Author: Not yet available

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