''Acacia scopulorum'' is a plant in the subgenus,
Juliflorae, of the genus, ''
Acacia
''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus na ...
'' in the family
,
[ endemic to the Northern Territory of ]Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.[
]
Description
''Acacia scopulorum'' is a tree or large shrub growing to 5 m, whose branches sometimes sprawl. The branchlets are smooth, angular and dark red. The smooth phyllode
Phyllodes are modified petioles or leaf stems, which are leaf-like in appearance and function. In some plants, these become flattened and widened, while the leaf itself becomes reduced or vanishes altogether. Thus the phyllode comes to serve the ...
s are narrow, spearblade- to sickle-shaped, and 7–11 cm long by 4.5–6 mm wide, with 8 to 14 longitudinal nerves. The gland is basal and the pulvinus
A pulvinus (pl. ''pulvini'') is a joint-like thickening at the base of a plant leaf or leaflet that facilitates growth-independent movement. Pulvini are common, for example, in members of the bean family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and the prayer plant ...
is 1.5 to 2.5 mm long. The yellow inflorescence spikes are paired in the upper axils, and are from 3.5 to 4.5 cm long, on peduncles which are 1.5–2 mm long. The flowers have four parts with a shortly lobed calyx which is 0.5 mm long, and smooth except for a few hairs on the lobes. The strongly reflexed corolla is lobed to level of calyx and about 1.5 mm long. The stamens are about 2.5 mm long, and the ovary is smooth. The smooth pods are straight or slightly curved, and up to 9 cm long by 2 mm wide, with a network of nerves and thickened margins. They are raised over the seeds. The seeds lie longitudinally, and are 2–2.5 mm by 1.5–1.7 mm. The aril is yellow, small and cup-like.[
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Ecology
It has been found in flower through December to April, and in fruit through January to May, and also in July.[
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Distribution and habitat
''A. scopulorum'' is restricted to the upper catchments of the eastern tributaries of Nourlangie Creek in Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory. It grows in sand and gravel on slopes, and in crevices in the sandstone.[
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Etymology
The specific epithet, ''scopulorum'', is the genitive plural of the Latin, ''scopulus'', a rock or cliff, and refers to the plant's habitat.[
]
See also
* List of ''Acacia'' species
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15288937
scopulorum
Flora of the Northern Territory