Acacia alata
Encyclopedia
Acacia alata is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia
.
Acacia alata is a frost-hardy, large, multi-branched shrub,growing 2.10 m high and 1 m across, distributed throughout Western Australia
.. It grows in a variety of soils : areas near streams, rocky hills, salt pans
and clay flats. Its branchlets are often bent alternately in different directions.
The phyllodes (modified petiole
s) are reduced in size and give the impression of cladodes (branches that resemble leaves). The wings of these phyllodes are usually 2–20 mm wide and 5–70 mm long. Furthermore, each phyllode extends into a spine
.
The inflorescence
is simple with mostly two flowers per axil, but sometimes distributed in raceme
s. The globular heads contain 4 to 15 flowers. These flowers can be white, cream-coloured or golden yellow. The last flower form is preferred for cultivation.
Four varieties are recognized :
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
.
Acacia alata is a frost-hardy, large, multi-branched shrub,growing 2.10 m high and 1 m across, distributed throughout Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.. It grows in a variety of soils : areas near streams, rocky hills, salt pans
Salt pan (geology)
Natural salt pans are flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually shining white under the sun. They are found in deserts, and should not be confused with salt evaporation ponds.A salt pan is formed where water pools...
and clay flats. Its branchlets are often bent alternately in different directions.
The phyllodes (modified petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
s) are reduced in size and give the impression of cladodes (branches that resemble leaves). The wings of these phyllodes are usually 2–20 mm wide and 5–70 mm long. Furthermore, each phyllode extends into a spine
Thorns, spines, and prickles
In botanical morphology, thorns, spines, and prickles are hard structures with sharp, or at least pointed, ends. In spite of this common feature, they differ in their growth and development on the plant; they are modified versions of different plant organs, stems, stipules, leaf veins, or hairs...
.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is simple with mostly two flowers per axil, but sometimes distributed in raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s. The globular heads contain 4 to 15 flowers. These flowers can be white, cream-coloured or golden yellow. The last flower form is preferred for cultivation.
Four varieties are recognized :
- Acacia alata var. alata
- Acacia alata var. biglandulosa
- Acacia alata var. platyptera
- Acacia alata var. tetrantha