Acacia rigens

Acacia rigens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Acacia
Species: A. rigens
Binomial name
Acacia rigens
A.Cunn. ex G.Don[1]
Synonyms
  • Acacia chordophylla Benth.
  • Racosperma rigens (A.Cunn. ex Don) Pedley

Acacia rigens, commonly known as nealie, is an erect or spreading shrub or small tree that is endemic to Australia.[2][3] Other common names include needle wattle, needlebush acacia, nealia and nilyah.[3]

Plants grows to between 1 and 6 metres high and have rigid, terete phyllodes that are between 3 and 13 cm long. The bright yellow flowerheads appear in groups of up to four in the axils of the phyllodes. These appear between July and December in the species' native range, followed by curled, twisted or coiled seed pods which are 4 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 mm wide.[2][3]

The species occurs on red earth, sandy or shaly soils in mallee and woodland in southern Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.[3][4]

The larvae of the double-spotted lineblue butterfly feed on this species.[4]

The species was first formally described in 1832 by botanist Allan Cunningham.[1]

Cultivation

The species is fast-growing and is both frost and drought tolerant, rarely requiring watering after establishment. It is adaptable to most soils and is best suited to a position in full sun or light shade.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Acacia rigens". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  2. 1 2 "Acacia rigens". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Acacia rigens". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  4. 1 2 "Acacia rigens". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  5. ↑ Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-15460-0.
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