Acacia alata
| Acacia alata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. alata |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia alata W.T.Aiton | |
Acacia alata (common name: winged wattle) 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 petioles) 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 racemes. 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
References
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