ISSN 0085—4417

NUYTSIA

Bulletin

of the Western Australian
Herbarium

Edited by A. S. George

Vol. 2 No. 3
1977

Department of Agriculture of Western Australia

ISSN 0085 4417

NUYTSIA

Bulletin

of the Western Australian
Herbarium

Edited by A. S. George

Vol. 2 No. 3
1977

Department of Agriculture of Western Australia

59156 — ( 1 )

Taxonomic Revisions in the family Haloragaceae

II. Further notes on Haloragis, Haloragodendron
and Gonocarpus

By A. E. Orchard*

Abstract

Additional notes are provided on new records and re-collections of seven
species of Haloragis , one species of Haloragodendron and fifteen species of
Gonocarpus , mainly from Western Australia. One new species, Haloragis
dura , is described, and the division of Gonocarpus into two sections, sect. Gono-
carpus and sect. Simphtm is proposed. Three species previously known only
from incomplete material are redescribed.

While a recently completed revision of Haloragis and related genera was
in press (Orchard, 1975), a number of new records and re-collections of poorly
known species became available. As withdrawal of the manuscript to incor-
porate these changes was not feasible, they are presented here as a supplement
to that paper. To facilitate comparison, the same numbers have been given
to the species as in the original work. Amended maps and supplementary
illustrations are provided where necessary.

HALORAGIS

12. Haloragis trigonocarpa F. Muell.

A collection of this species by Royce (Royce 5921, 1 6. vii. 1 959, Dorre
Island, PERTH (fl.) ) from Shark Bay is the first record from an offshore island.
Several collections from the nearby mainland were listed previously.

13. Haloragis acutangula F. Muell.

Recently collected material of H. digyna from near Esperance forms a link
between that species and plants formerly (Orchard, 1975) described as H.
acutangula f. occidentalis. It is still unclear whether all of the Western Austral-
ian plants listed under H. acutangula f. occidentalis (including the type) should
be transferred to H. digyna , or whether some of them are best retained in H.
acutangula. Further collections in flower and fruit are required from coastal
areas between Albany and Eucla, to help decide this question. (See also under
H. digyna).

14. Haloragis aspera Lindl.

In my previous paper two Western Australian collections (. Blackall 1221,
Gardner 2919) were referred to this species. Both collections were in llower
only, and although differing from typical H. aspera in some respects, they were
placed in this species until further material should become available. Four
more collections have now been made from the Norseman-Widgiemooltha
area, all bearing flowers and fruits, and all matching the two previous collec-
tions. Now that complete material is available it seems that these Western
Australian plants differ from H. aspera in a number of characters, including
leaf shape, size and shape of the secondary bracts of the inflorescence, and most

* Auckland Institute and Museum, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand.

126

noticeably, in fruit shape. They are therefore placed in a separate species,
H. dura , distinct from, but closely related to, H. aspera. H. aspera s.str. is
now considered to be absent from Western Australia.

Figure 1 —Haloragis dura. A. Leaf. B. Portion of inflorescence, showing primary, secondary
and tertiary bracts. C. Flower just before anthesis. D. Portion of infructescence. E, F.
Fruits. G. Distribution. (A, D,E. from Orchard 4186; B,C,F. from Orchard 4187). Scales
represent I cm (A.) or 1 mm (B-F.l.

14a. Haloragis dura Orchard, sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2

Herba perennis 25-35 cm alta, caudex stoloniformis, caules erect! herbacei dense vestiti
pilis simplicibus 2-3-cellularis pellucidis apice uncatis 0-2 mm longis. Folia alterna lance-
olata vel oblanceolata vel subcuneata sessilia (I ■ 2- ) 1 -5-2-3 cm longa (0-3-J0-5-0-8 cm lata
dentibus 4-6 falco-deltoidibus scabra.

Flores 4-merus, in spicis dichasiorum sessilium ( I -)3-florum. Bracteae primariae foli-
aceae lanceolatae 0-7-1 -0(1 -3) cm longae 0-2-0-41-0-6) cm latae 2-4-dentatae scabrae
Bracteae secundariae mcmbranaceae iineares 2-0-3-01-4-0) mm longae 0-3-0-4 mm latae
plerumque dentibus 2 parvis scabrae. Bracteae tertiariae membranaceae Iineares I -0-1 -2 mm
longae, 0-2 mm latae integrae scabrae. Sepala 4 ovata 1 -0 mm longa 0-7 mm lata dense
vestita pilis uncatis. Petala 4, 2-5-2 8 mm longa 0-6-0-7 mm lata scabra in carina. Stamina
8, antherae I -8-2-0 mm longae. Styli 4. Ovarium ovoideum 0-8-10 mm longum. 0-5
0-8 mm latum, infirme 4-angulatum, dense scabrum, 4-locellatum, ovulum I per loculum.

Fructus oblongus 4-alatus, 2-5-3-0 mm longus 2-6-3 0 mm latus (alae inclusael, alae
0-5-1 -0 mm latae raro ad costas deminutas, irregulariter foveatus et verrucosus inter alas;
sepala persistentia patentia deltata 1 -3-1 -4 mm longa 0-9-1 -0 mm lata; loculi 4, semen 1 per
loculum.

Holotypus: A. E. Orchard 4186, 23. xi. 1974. Western Australia: ca 50 km south of Widgie-
mooltha. On roadside at edge of bitumen, AK (fl., fr.). Isotypi: CANB, PERTFI, AD,
L, MO.

127

Mi

% i

C<*!» 4 r«*«« s ;; ;

«wruc*»«MW to « «W», W«*f, t <•»

Figure 2 — Holotvpe of Haloragis dura.

Perennial herb 25-35 cm tall; rootstock stoloniferous ; stems erect, green,
herbaceous, unnbbed, densely clothed with simple 2— 3-celled hyaline hairs
O' 2 mm long hooked at tip. Leaves green to subglaucous, alternate, lanceolate
to oblanceolate or subcuneate, ( 1 • 2 — ) 1 • 5-2 • 3 cm long, (0 • 3— )0 • 5-0 • 8 cm wide,

128

scabrous on both surfaces with hooked hairs as for stems, serrate with 4-6
falco-deltoid teeth 2-3 mm long; apex acute; margin revolute; midrib sunken
above, prominent below; other veins indistinct.

Inflorescence an indeterminate spike of ( l-)3-flowered dichasia borne in
axils of alternate primary bracts. Lateral inflorescences arise in axils of upper
leaves. Primary bracts green, leaflike, lanceolate, 0-7-1 • 0(— I -3) cm long,
0-2-0-4(-0-6) cm wide, 2-4-dentate, midribbed, scabrous on both faces, with
revolute margins. Secondary bracts (green-)straw-coloured, membranous,
linear, 2-0-3 ■ 0(— 4 • 0) mm long, 0- 3-0-4 mm wide, usually with 2 small teeth,
weakly midribbed, scabrous on outer face. Tertiary bracts straw-coloured,
membranous, linear, 1 -0-1 -2 mm long, 0-2 mm wide, entire, scabrous.

Flowers 4-merous, ^sessile. Sepals 4, green, ovate. I -0 mm long, 0- 7 mm
wide, densely scabrous with hooked hairs. Petals 4. red, 2- 5-2 -8 mm long,
0-6-0- 7 mm wide (keel to margin), hooded, keeled, shortly unguiculate.
scabrous. Stamens 8; filaments 0-2-0- 3 mm long; anthers red to yellow,
linear-oblong. 1- 8-2-0 mm long, 0-3-0 -4 mm wide, 4-celled, nonapiculate.
Styles 4, clavate; stigmas red, capitate, fimbriate. Ovary ovoid, 0-8-1 -0 mm
long, 0- 5-0-8 mm wide, slightly 4-angled, densely scabrous, 4-locular, 1 ovule
per locule.

Fruit reddish-green, usually solitary in axil of primary bract, on pedicel
ca 1 mm long, oblong, 4-winged, 2- 5-3-0 mm long, 2 -6-3-0 mm wide (including
wings); wings 0-5-1 -0 mm wide, rarely reduced to ribs; fruit irregularly pitted
and verrucose between wings, scabrous; sepals persistent, spreading, deltoid,
1 -3-1-4 mm long, 0-9-1 -0 mm wide: 4 locules, I seed per locule.

H. dura is confined to the Norseman-Widgiemooltha region of Western
Australia, where it is found in red, sandy, often stony, soils. It is locally
abundant on roadsides, particularly in the gutters at the edge of the road. The
epithet "dura” refers to its harsh, dry texture, even when fresh. H. dura
belongs to the H. aspera-H. uncatipila alliance, but can be distinguished from
these species by a number of characters. The key in Orchard (1975) should
be amended as follows:

18. Hairs hooked at tip, 2-4-celled, 0 - 1-0-5 mm long.

22. Fruit ovoid, pyriform, globular or winged, exocarp not swollen or spongy.

22a. Secondary bracts 1 -2-1 -4 mm long, entire; leaves usually more than 6-toothed; fruit
ovoid, pyriform or globular, if ribbed, then ribs only in upper part of fruit; sepals
in fruit erect. 14. H. aspera

22a. Secondary bracts 2-0-3 -O(^t-O) mm long, often 2-toothed: leaves less than 6-toothed;
fruit usually 4-winged, or if wings reduced to ribs, then ribs run entire length of fruit;
sepals in fruit spreading or reflexed. 14a. H. dura

22. Fruit globular, exocarp swollen, spongy, sepals erect or rellexed in fruit.

15. H. uncatipila

From H . hamata. H. dura is easily distinguished by its relatively shorter,
broader leaves and larger fruit with 4 oblong longitudinal wings and regularly

4- locular ovary, and from H. acutangida, H. odontocarpa , H. foliosa , H. aculeo-
lata and H. scoparia. H. dura is distinguished by. inter alia , its hooked hairs.

Specimens examined: Btackatl 1221. 30.x. 1931, hills 7 miles [I I km] from Norseman, PERTH
(fl.); Gardner 2919. 27.x. 1931, Norseman. PERTH (IT); Orchard 4176, 23. xi. 1974, Fraser
Range ca 115 km east of Norseman, AK. PERTH, CANB (fl.. fr. ); Orchard 41 85. 23.xi.l974,

5- 5 km west of Norseman, AK, PERTH, CANB (fr.); Orchard 4186, 4187, 23. xi. 1974, ca
50 km south of Widgiemooltha, AK. CANB. PERTH (fl., fr.).

The specimen Orchard 4185 differs from the other fruiting collections in
that in most of its fruits the wings are reduced to small ribs. However in other
respects this specimen agrees with the description of H. dura given above.

129

17

Haloragis foliosa Benth. Figure

Two further collections of this poorly known species have been made
from the mid-west coast region of Western Australia. They are Oriha ~ •

">7 xi 1974 17 km south of Dongara on coast track just south ot Chit Head
AK PERTH (IT); Orchard 4219. 27.xi.1974, 56 km south of Dongara on coast
track AK PERTH (fl., fr. ). As these are the first collections ot the species
since Drummond's type gathering, and the first to bear mature fruits, an
amended description of the species is given below.

Perennial herb or subshrub to 50 cm tall; stems woody at base, ascending,
red to green, smooth or weakly 5-ribbed, sparsely scabrous with simple 2-4-
celled. curved or slightly hooked hairs 0-2-0 -4 mm long.

Leaves bright green, alternate, sessile, linear to linear-lanceolate, (D5-)
3 . 0-4 ■ 5 cm long, 0- 2-0-4(0- 7) cm wide, ± entire or minutely serrate with
4-8 teeth ca I mm long, mainly in upper part, sparsely scabrous with hairs as
for stems, apex acute; all veins indistinct.

Inflorescence an indeterminate spike of 1-3-flowered dichasia in axils of
alternate primary bracts. Lateral inflorescences arise in axils ot upper leaves.
Primary bracts broad-lanceolate, 0-9-1 -4 cm long, (0-2-)0-4 mm wide, green,
fleshy/ ± entire, midribbed, scabrous on margins; secondary bracts ovate,
(1 - 7— )2 • 5—3 ■ 5 mm long, (0 - 4— ) 1 -0-1 -3 mm wide, green, fleshy, entire, strongly
midribbed (almost keeled), glabrous but for a few scattered hairs on margins;
tertiary bracts as for secondary. 2 mm long, tip attenuate.

Figure 3— Haloragis foliosa. A. Upper part of inflorescence. B. Flower. C. Flower with
secondary bract Di Petal. E. Stamen. F. Secondary bract. G-J. Fruits. K. Distribu-
tion. (A-F. from Orchard 4213; G-J. from Orchard 4219.) Scales represent I cm (A.) or

1 mm (B-J.).

130

Flowers 4-merous, sessile. Sepals 4, ovate to subcordate, 1-3-1 -9 mm
long, 1 - 1—1 - 2 mm wide, weakly midribbed. otherwise smooth; tip very shortly
acuminate; margin with a few curved hairs. Petals 4, hooded, keeled, very
shortly unguiculate, 3 0-3-2 mm long. 0-9-1 -3 mm wide (keel to margin),
scabrous on keel. Stamens 8; filaments 01-0-3 mm long; anthers yellow,
linear-oblong, 2-0-2-7 mm long, 0-3 mm wide. 4-locular, nonapiculate, anti-
sepalous anthers ca 0-2 mm longer than antipetalous ones. Styles 4, clavate,
0-5-0-6 mm long; stigmas capitate. Ovary obpyramidal, 1-0-1 -4 mm long,
0-8-1 -0 mm wide, strongly 4-angled opposite petals, weakly ribbed opposite
sepals, glabrous except for sparse hairs on ribs, 4-locular, with 1 pendulous
ovule per locule.

Fruit oblong. 1 -7-1-8 mm long, 1-2-1 -3 mm wide (excluding wings),
strongly 4-angled, with a narrow longitudinal wing on each angle, shallowly
grooved opposite sepals, with faint horizontal ribs between grooves and wings,
glabrous; wings 0-3 mm wide at top tapering to 0- 1 mm at base; sepals per-
sistent, erect, enclosing styles, deltoid, 0-8 mm long. 0-9 mm wide, faintly
midribbed: 4-locules, 1 seed per locule.

Both of these new collections were rounded, multistemmed shrubs growing
in shallow' sand over limestone in low coastal heath. Both were in young
flower in late November and one (Orchard 4219) still bore old fruits from the
previous season. In their habit, habitat, leaf, flower and fruit morphology
these plants very closely resemble H. acutangula, the fruits coming closest to
H. acutangula f. acutangula. The main distinguishing characters between the
two species are the sepals of the flowers (subcordate, I - 3-1 - 9 x 1 • 1-1 -2 mm in
H. foliosa', deltoid, 0-8-1 -0 x 0-7-0-8 mm in H. acutangula ), and the secondary
bracts (fleshy and - keeled in FI. foliosa', membranous and j lacking a midrib
in H. acutangula). The hairs of the new collections are strongly curved in
some parts, but lack the distinct sharply hooked tip of H. aspera and its
allies.

The affinities of H. foliosa must now' be considered to lie with H. acutangula
rather than with H. aspera as suggested earlier. The relationship of H. foliosa
to other members of this complex in Western Australia (H. scoparia, H. aculen-
lata) is still uncertain. Clarification must await further collections of all
species involved.

20. Haloragis hamata Orchard. Figure 4

Several more collections of this species have been made since its descrip-
tion, extending its known range northwards towards Norseman. The collec-
tions are Orchard 4436, 4438, 1 6.xi i . 1 974, Near Young River ca 40 km directly
north of the coast. AK. CANB. PERTH ( fr. ) ; Orchard 4439, 4440, 1 6 . x i i . 1974,
Esperance-Norseman road ca 73 km south of Norseman. AK, CANB, PERTH
<fl., fr.); Orchard 4442, 17.xii.I974, Esperance-Norseman road ca 50 km south
of Norseman, AK. CANB. PERTH (fr.). The plants were locally abundant,
particularly in roadside hollows and depressions, and seem to be confined to
red sandy soils containing limestone nodules, always in inland localities. In
these respects H. hamata differs from the superficially similar H. digyna which
occurs nearby, but is so far recorded (in Western Australia) only from the
deep white sand of coastal dunes (see below-).

The fruits of these new collections differ slightly from those of previous
gatherings. They are more or less depressed globose in shape, ca 1-4 mm long,
1 -8 mm wide, with pronounced angles or thick rounded deltoid longitudinal
wings alternating with the sepals, the sepals persistent, erect, deltoid, 0-9 mm
long, 0-8 mm wide, smooth and glabrous. The body of the fruit between the

131

Figure 4 — Haloragis hamate. A. Portion of inflorescence. B-D. Fruits E. Transverse
section of 4-locular fruit (fig. B). F. Transverse section of 2-locular tru.t (fig. C (A-C, b. F.
from Orchard 4442; D. from Orchard 4438). Scale represents 1 mm (all figures).

angles or wings is weakly and irregularly verrucose, and the whole fruit ex-
cluding the sepals, is densely scabrous with spreading hooked hairs. The truit
i s 2-4-locular with a woody endocarp and septa, and a spongy exocarp.

24. Haloragis digyna Labill. Figure

Two further collections of this species suggest that changes are necessary
in the previous treatment of the species (Orchard. 1975). The collections
(Orchard 4444, 4445. lB.xii. 1974, 5 km east ot Esperance, AK. CANB. I EK I H
(f!., fr.)) came from white coastal sand-dunes, where the plants are locally
abundant. In general appearance the plants resemble H. hamata but differ in
being more or less glabrous, with only very tew' scattered curved or hooked
hairs However, the main difference between the species lies in their fruits. In
H. digyna the fruits are glabrous, ± cylindric, 1 ■ 8-2-0 mm long. 1 -0 mm wide,
with 4 distinct angles alternating with the sepals, produced into narrow acute
deltoid wings near the base, and strongly verrucose on the faces between the
ribs The sepals are persistent, erect. ±_ ovate, I -3 mm long, 0-8 mm wide,
enclosing the styles. The fruit is 1 -2-locular, with a woody endocarp and
septa, and closely appressed, non-spongy exocarp.

Figure 5 — Haloragis digyna. A. B. Fruits. C. Transverse section of fruit, (all from Orchard

4445). Scale represents I mm.

132

Re-examination of the collections Orchard 1726 and 1728, formerly placed
in H. acutangula f. occidentalism has revealed that they are also H. digyna, and
this casts doubt on the other Western Australian collections of H. acutangula f.
occidentalism Some of these, at least, have a fruit which differs from that des-
cribed above, in that it is 4-locular, with definite deltoid wings occupying the
entire length of the fruit. Whether these collections should also be referred to
H. digyna is a question which must be deferred until a more representative series
of collections can be assembled from the entire southern coast of Western
Australia. The specimens from South Australia cited under //. acutangula f.
occidentals definitely belong in II. acutangula , and will require a new name if
the Western Australian members of this forma (including the type) are trans-
ferred to H. digyna.

The South Australian collections previously included in II. digyna (Orchard,
1975) differ from these new collections principally in habit, the South Australian
plants being weak and herbaceous while the Esperance plants are erect and
distinctly woody at the base. Further collections from Eyre Peninsula would
be useful to help decide whether or not this difference is significant.

Haloragis pedicellata Schindler and H. viridis Schindler

These two species were inadvertently omitted from my previous treatment.
Both were based on type specimens formerly in B. but subsequently lost. No
duplicates of the types have been located, nor have any other collections ever
been assigned to either of these species.

t lie first species, H. pedicellata. as described by Schindler differed from
H. e.xalata mainly in its pedicellate flowers, and its serrate calyx lobes which
lacked a median basal callus. The difference in length of flower pedicel is no
longer a useful character now that more material of H. e.xalata is available,
nor is the lack of a basal callus on the sepals. The remaining difference, the
two teeth near the tips of the sepals in H. pedicellata. compared with the entire
lobes in H. e.xalata. scarcely seems sufficient to keep the two species distinct.
Pending the discovery of further material, it is probably best to include H.
pedicellata in the synonymy of H. e.xalata.

Haloragis viridis does not seem (e.x descr.) to differ in any significant manner
from H. stricta R.Br. ex Benth., and is here included in this species.

HAEORAGODENDRON

5. ESaloragodendron giandulosum Orchard

A further collection of this species from between Ravensthorpe and
Southern Cross ( Newhey 3469. 6. i. 1971. Hatter’s Hill. PERTH (fr.)) suggests
that the plant may eventually prove to be widely distributed throughout the
area approximately defined by the square Kalgoorlie-Southern Cross-Hopetoun-
Esperance. This latest collection is described as “2 ft [60 cm] high in loam,
dominant in some areas burnt 2 years ago”.

GONOCARPUS

7. Gonocarpus sanguineus (Merr. & Perry) Orchard

The collection Arndt s.n., 1894, Mt. Dayman, MEL (fr.), not previously
listed, represents the first known record of this plant, predating the next known
collection (Clemens 102477) by 45 years.

133

8. Gonocarpus halconensis (Merr.) Orchard

The collection MacGregor s.n., 1894, lower ranges of British New Guinea,
MEL (fl ), not previously listed, is the first known record of this plant. It pre-
dates the earliest Merrill collection from the Philippines ( Merrill 5700), the type
of H. halconensis, by 12 years.

13. Gonocarpus implexus Orchard

A further collection has been made ol this species from the Kimberley
region of Western Australia. The collection (George 12415, 1 9.viii. 1 974,
Blyxa Creek. Prince Regent River Reserve, PERTH) was made in open wood-
land near the creek in sandy loam. It was cited by George & Kenneally (1975)
as “ Haloragis sp."

14. Gonocarpus chinensis (Lour.) Orchard subsp. chinensis

Another collection of this species has been made from the Kimberley
region of Western Australia. The collection (George 12541, 22.viii. 1 974,
Blyxa Creek, Prince Regent River Reserve, PERTH) was a straggling perennial
herb growing in damp sand among open woodland of Melaleuca viridiflora and
Eucalyptus housecma. It was cited by George & Kenneally (1975) as Hcdoragis
chinensis (Lour.) Merrill, and noted as a new record for Western Australia.
Fitzgerald had collected the same plant from three other localities in the Kim-
berleys in 1905, but the collections had not been identified as G. chinensis until
my previous work.

20. Gonocarpus leptothecus (F. Muell.) Orchard Figure 6

A number of new collections of this species from Western Australia and
the Northern Territory have increased the known east-west range of the plant.
In most cases, the collector’s notes accompanying the specimens indicate that
they were growing in sandstone soils, as was the case with most previous
collections. The new collections are:

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: George 12450, 19,viii. 1974, Blyxa Creek, Prince Regent River
Reserve, PERTH: Wilson s.n., 27.V.1972, Champagny Island. Bonaparte Archipelago, PERTH
(fr.); Wilson 10655, I2.V.1972, Augustus Island, Bonaparte Archipelago, PERTH <fr.) ; Wilson
10906, 22.V.1972, Hevwood Island (south), Bonaparte Archipelago, PERTH (fr.); Wilson
11412. 7 . v i i . 1 9 7 3 , Boongaree Island. Prince Frederick Harbour, PERTH (fl., fr.). NORTH-
ERN TERRITORY: Kanis & Schoclde 1822, 12. vi. 1974, Upper Nicholson River area, China
Wall, base camp on Fish River Gorge, CANB, AD (fr.).

134

21. Gonocarpus benthamii Orchard Figure 7

In my previous treatment of this species the few specimens cited seemed
to indicate that G. benthamii was a relatively rare plant, sporadic in its occur-
rence in south-western Western Australia. On the contrary, recent collections
and observations show that it is plentiful in the understorey of Karri, Jarrah and
Marri forests throughout the region south of Perth, and in some places where
forestry management has eliminated most of the shrubby species, G. benthamii
forms almost the entire understorey.

The new collections are:

Orchard 4323. 7.xii . 1 974, Bis Brook. Bussell Highway, 5 km north of Margaret River town-
ship, AK, CANB, PERTH (II); Orchard 4332, 7.xii. 1 974. Margaret River at The Rapids,
AK (fl.); Orchard 4339. S.xit. 1 974, ca 8 km south-west of Alexandra Bridge on Kudardup
Road. AK. CANB, PERTH (ft., fr. ) ; Orchard 4361, 10.xii.1974, 15 km south-west of Pember-
ton on Yeagarup Road. AK, CANB, PERTH (It.); Orchard 4363, 1 0. xii . 1 974, 7 km west ol
Shannon at corner of Middleton Road and Deeside Coast Road, AK, CANB, PERTH (fl.);
Orchard 4368, 10. xii. 1974, Shannon River at Lower Shannon Road crossing, AK, CANB,
PERTH (fl.).

23. Gonocarpus diffusus (Diels) Orchard Figure 8

Five further collections of this species have been made, significantly
extending its known range. The collections are:

Orchard 4290. 4. xii. 1974, 14 km by road from Dwellingup along North East Road, near the
north-west corner of South Danda’lup Dam. AK (IT, fr.): Orchard 4294, 5. xii, 1974, north-east
corner of Logue Brook Dam, AK (fl.); Orchard 4327. 7. xii. 1974, Margaret River, along Cane-
brake Road, ca 18 km directly east-north-easi of Margaret River township, AK (II.); Orchard
4330. 7. xii. 1974, Margaret River at The Rapids. AK (fl.): Orchard 4375, 11. xii. 1974, 50 km
north of Walpole on the Mt. Erankland road, AK. CANB (fl., fr.).

All of these plants were prostrate, very local in distribution, and always
in close proximity to water. In fact, several were collected half submerged in
shallow water, suggesting that intermittent flooding may be one of the ecological

135

\

*

requirements of the species. Where this species occurs with G. benthamii (e.g.
Orchard 4330, 4332). G. diffusus is found in the wetter areas. There are a
number of minor differences between these recent collections and the descrip-
tion given previously. The stems are closely appressed pubescent, with uni-
cellular hairs, particularly in the upper parts, becoming more or less glabrous
towards the base. The leaves are moderately densely pilose on both faces,
with hairs as for the stems. Many of the flower petals and anthers are much
shorter than previously reported. The petals of apparently fully bisexual
flowers can be as short as 0-8 mm, with anthers 0-4-0- 5 mm long. The ovaries
and fruits of these plants have, without exception, several short, thick, strongly
curved hairs or papillae on the ribs, a feature previously (Orchard. 1975) des-
cribed as “anomalous". The discovery of these plants, and their differences
from previous collections, casts doubts on whether G. diffusus and G. intricatus
are really distinct. The only remaining differences between the species are the
shape of the sepals (cordate in G. intricatus, deltoid-ovate and saccate in G.
diffusus ) and a slight difference in the size of the fruits. If the two species are
merged in future, then the epithet “ intricatus ” has priority.

24. Gonocarpus rudis (Benth.) Orchard

A further collection of this species has been made, providing further
information on the habit and habitat requirements of G. rudis. The collection
(Orchard 4415, 1 4.xii. 1 975, Stirling Range National Park. 2 km from Red Gum
Pass road along Stirling Range Drive, AK, CANB. PERTH (fr.)) was a round
subshrub, locally abundant, to 30 cm tall, softly reddish pubescent, growing in
deep red sand on the roadside. Previous collections had given the impression
that the plant was single-stemmed, with a “trunk" 5-10 cm tall arising from a
fibrous rootstock, with numerous herbaceous branches borne near its apex.
In fact, all plants in the population studied were multistemmed subshrubs, and
the “trunks”, 20-30 in number, were only the primary branches, bearing

136

adventitious roots in their lower parts. Previous collections have shown con-
siderable variation in fruit morphology. The fruits of Orchard 4415 are
blackish purple, ovoid to globular, 0- 8-0-9 mm long, 0-8-0-9 mm in diameter,
8-ribbed longitudinally, sparsely appressed pilose at the base and on the ribs;
the sepals are persistent, erect, greenish-red, deltoid, 0-6-0- 7 mm long, 0-5-
0-6 mm wide, with a prominent median basal callus, and glabrous.

26. Gonocarpus pusillus (R.Br. ex Benth.) Orchard Figure 9

This species was one of the most poorly known when the previous treat-
ment of the genus went to press. It was known only from the type, of which
1 had seen only a fragmentary isotype from MEL. Two further collections
which appear to belong here are now known, and are the basis for the amended
description which appears below.

Prostrate annual herbs to 5 cm tall; stems to 10 cm long, spreading from
central taproot, green, weakly 4-ribbed, glabrous. Leaves opposite at base,
becoming alternate, linear to linear-lanceolate, 0-7-0-8 cm long, 0- 1 cm wide,
coriaceous, no veins apparent, glabrous.

Inflorescence an indeterminate: spike of flowers borne singly in the axils
of alternate primary bracts. Lateral inflorescences arise in axils of upper
leaves. Primary bracts leaflike, lanceolate to ovate, (1 -7-)2-0-2-5 mm long.
0-5-0- 7 mm wide, coriaceous, glabrous. Secondary bracts green, fleshy to
membranous, lanceolate, 0-5-1 -2 mm long, 0-2-0 -3 mm wide, often deciduous,
glabrous or sparsely scabrous near tip with hairs 0- 1 mm long.

Flowers 4-merous, on pedicels 0- 1-0-2 mm long. Sepals 4, deltoid.
0-3 mm long. 0-3 mm wide, subsaccate at base, glabrous, margin thickened.
Petals 4, yellow to reddish, hooded, keeled, unguiculate, 0-9-1 0 mm long,
0-3 mm' wide (keel to margin), scabrous on keel with simple white unicellular
hairs 0- 1 mm long. Stamens 8; filaments 0-2 mm long; anthers red. oblong.
0-5-0-6 mm long, 0-2 mm wide, 4-locular, nonapiculate. Styles 4, clavate;
stigmas red, fimbriate. Ovary silver-grey, ovoid to globular, 0-6-0 -7 mm long.
0-6-0- 7 mm wide, 8-ribbed, scabrous particularly on ribs and in lower part,
with white unicellular appressed hairs; septa absent; ovules 4 pendulous.

Fruit on pedicel 0-2-0-3 mm long, grey, ovoid to globular, 0-8 mm long.
0-8 mm wide. 8-ribbed, scabrous towards base and on ribs; sepals persistent,
erect, green to purplish, deltoid. 0- 3-0-4 mm long, 0- 3-0-4 mm wide, glabrous,
enclosing styles; 1 seed.

These collections (Orchard 4344, 8.xi i . 1 974, Long Swamp ca 10 km directly
north-east of Augusta, AK, CANB, PERTH (fl. , fr. ) ; Orchard 4371. 1 1 .xii. 1974,
ca 3 km north of Mt, Frankland turnoff on Walpole-Mt. Frankland road, AK,
CANB. PERTH (fl., fr,)) were found in low-lying restionaceous heath areas,
probably subject to intermittent flooding in winter. The plants were incon-
spicuous but relatively abundant in these areas, growing in blackish sand, with
Restionacjae, Epacridaceae, Drosera spp.. Thysanotus spp. and Gonocarpus
paniculatus. The two species of Gonocarpus are easily distinguished in the
field. G. pusillus is prostrate with a relatively short, thick, green axis to the
inflorescence, unbranched but for a few simple lateral inflorescences. G.
paniculatus is a stiff, erect plant with profusely branched filiform reddish in-
florescences. The leaves and flowers of G. paniculatus are also much larger
than those of G. pusillus.

27. Gonocarpus eremophilus Orchard

One further collection of this species is now known: George 12175,
27.vii.1974, 53 miles [85 km] south-west of Warburton, Gibson Desert. PERTH
(fl.). Like the earlier collections it was found on an open gravelly plain, asso-
ciated with Triodia basedowii.

30. Gonocarpus pithyoides Nees

The three collections below considerably extend the known range of this
species northwards:

Orchard 4258, 29. \i. 1974, Gingm-Dongara road ca 4 km south of Muliering Brook AK
CANB, PERTH (fl., fr.); Orchard 4259, 29.xi.l974, 6 km south of Dandaring West’ Ak!
CANB. PERTH (ft., ir.); Orchard 4273, 1. xii. 1974, 12 km west of Gingin-Dongara road
along Moore River, AK. CANB, PERTH (It., fr.).

31. Gonocarpus simplex (R.Br. ex Britten) Orchard

This species was previously known only from the type and a collection by
C. P. Andrews, both from near Albany, and both lacking fruits. Even in this
incomplete state it was clear that G. simplex, with its " leafless, sedge-like
stems and small flowers was an unusual member of the genus Gonocarpus.
Two further collections of this species (Orchard 4443, 4443a," 1 7. xii. 1974, access
road to Cape Le Grand, ca 5 km north of National Park boundary, AK,
CANB. PERTH (fl., fr.)) bearing a range of flowers and fruits, and one of them
(Orchard 4443a) consisting of seedlings, have revealed that G. simplex differs
from other Gonocarpus species in a number of other respects, and it is proposed
that G. simplex should be segregated from the rest of the genus in a new section,
Gonocarpus sect. Simphtm, defined as follows.

Gonocarpus section Simplum Orchard, sect. nov.

Styli subulati, sepala magnopere excedens; flores masculi in pedicellis longis elevatis-
fructus lineares, longitude ultra bis diametrum. Typus: Gonocarpus simplex (R Br ex
Britten) Orchard.

The plants of this new section differ from those of Gonocarpus sect. Gono-
carpus mainly in having long subulate styles greatly exceeding the sepals, in
having male and bisexual flowers, probably on separate plants, with the male
flowers borne on long pedicels, the bisexual flowers ± sessile, and in having
linear or cylindrical fruits more than twice as long as their diameter.

Key to the sections of genus Gonocarpus

Styles clavate, not. or barely exceeding sepals; flowers all bisexual (or rarely functionally
female), all sessile; fruit ovoid, globular or shortlv cvlindrical, length (excluding seoals)
less than twice diameter . ...... sect. Gonocarpus

Styles subulate, greatly exceeding sepals; bisexual flowers ^ sessile, male flowers on long
pedicels; fruit linear, length (excluding sepals) more than twice diameter sect. Simplum

138

Figure 10 — Gonocarpus simplex. A. Seedling. B. Habit of mature plant. C. Portion of
male inflorescence, with primary bracts already shed. D. Male flower after shedding of petals
and stamens. E. Tip of inflorescence showing bisexual flowers in axils of primary and second-
ary bracts. F. Bisexual flower. G. Bisexual flower after shedding of petals and stamens.
H. Fruit. (A. from Orchard 4443a; B-H. from Orchard 4443). Scales represent 1 cm (A.),

10 cm (B.) and 1 mm (C-H.).

An amended description of G. simplex based on the two new collections
is given below.

Perennial herb to 40 cm tall; rootstock stoloniferous; stems green, herba-
ceous, Jr leafless, sparsely branched, unribbed, glabrous. Leaves deciduous,
alternate, linear. 0-5-1 -0 cm long, 1 mm wide, glabrous; veins obscure apart
from slight channelling above; tip with dark cap-like apiculum.

Inflorescence an indeterminate spike of flowers borne singly in axils of
alternate primary bracts. Occasional lateral inflorescences are borne in the
axils of the upper leaves. Primary bracts red, membranous, deltoid, i -7 mm

139

long, 0-3 mm wide (keel to margin), conduplicately folded and stem-clasping,
with well defined keel, glabrous, deciduous before anthesis. Secondary bracts
linear, 0-8-1 • 1 mm long. 0-2 mm wide, glabrous, deciduous.

Flowers 4-merous; male or bisexual, apparently on distinct plants. Bi-
sexual flowers sessile; sepals 4, deltoid, 0-4 mm long, 0-3 mm wide, glabrous.
Petals 4, hooded. keeled. 1 -7 mm long, 0-3 mm wide, long-unguiculate (ca
J- of length), glabrous. Stamens 8; filaments 0-4 mm long; anthers linear-
oblong. 0-9-10 mm long, 0-2 mm w'ide, 4-celled. nonapiculate. Styles 4,
subulate, 0-8 mm long; stigmas fimbriate. Ovary linear-ovoid, I -0 mm long,
0-4 mm diam., 8-ribbed, glabrous, incompletely 4-locular, 4 ovules. Male
flowers as for bisexual ones, but on pedicel 2 mm long; ovary rudimentary.

Fruit green, sessile, linear-cylindrical. I -8-1 -9 mm long (excluding sepals),
0-6-0 -7 mm wide, 8-ribbed. smooth between ribs, glabrous; sepals persistent,
erect, deltoid. 0-4-0-5 mm long. 0-3-0-4 mm w-ide, smooth; styles protruding;

1 seed.

Seedlings with flexuose stems, first 2 leaves opposite, others alternate;
stems and leaves bright green with reddish tips.

These two collections came from the margins of a small swamp, densely
overgrown with Restionaceae, Cyperaceae and Xyris. The only associated
trees were a few paperbark Melaleuca sp. The plants were relatively abundant,
but inconspicuous, overtopped by sedges at the water's edge, particularly in
disturbed places where the road crossed the swamp. The seedlings were
numerous on a patch of black organic sand recently scraped clear of other
vegetation. The swamp was some distance outside the boundary of Cape le
Grand National Park, and a search of similar swamps inside the park failed to
reveal G. simplex.

33. Gonocarpus confertifolius (F. Muell.) Orchard

A number of further collections of this species extend its known range.

G. confertifolius var. confertifolius: Boswell R29. 1967, Cundeelee, PERTH (fr.); Orchard
4196, 26. xi. 1974, Kalbarri National Park, 9 km south-east of turnoff to The Loop' on main
access road, AK, CAN B, PERTH (ff, Tr.).

G. confertifolius var. helmsii Orch.: Butler s,n., 26. i. 1958, Queen Victoria Springs, PERTH
(IT, fr.): Diets s.n.. Menzies, PERTH (IT): George 7987, I2.ix.l966, 19 miles [30~Vm] W of
Sandstone. PERTH (IT); Orchard 4188, 24. xi. 1974. 18 km west of Coolgardie on road to
Southern Cross, AK, CANB. PERTH (It., fr.): Orchard 4 1 91, 24.xi.l974, 45 km west of Cool-
gardie on road to Southern Cross. AK. CANB. PERTH (11., fr.): Orchard 4193. 24.xi.1974
95 km west of Coolgardie, AK, CANB. PERTH (IT. I'r.): Orchard 4195, 24. xi. 1974, Merredin-
Goomalling road, ca 2-5 km east of Trayning, AK, CANB. PERTH (IT, I'r,).

The Orchard collection of var. confertifolius has leaves 1-0 cm long and
0-4-0 -5 cm wide, with 6-8 teeth. These dimensions are considerably larger
than those given previously.

G. confertifolius var. helmsii, of which only a few collections were known
previously, is much more common than suspected. It is abundant in the area
between Coolgardie and Southern Cross, particularly along the sides of the
main road, in the shallow gutters.

35. Gonocarpus paniculatus (R.Br. ex Benth.) Orchard Figure 1 1

Previous records of this species seem to indicate that it was fairly rare. Only
a handful of collections were known, and very few of these were recent. Flow-
ever, it is now apparent that the species is in fact relatively common in the south-
west of Western Australia, particularly in the coastal region between Margaret

140

Figure 1 1 — Gonocarpus paniculatus. A. Habit. B. Portion of inflorescence. C. Flower and
secondary bracts. D-E. Flowers in fascicles of 3 and 2. F. As in E., but enlarged to show
secondary and tertiary bracts. G. Distribution. (A-C. from Orchard 4422; D-F. from
Orchard 4397). Scales represent 1 cm (A.), or 1 mm (B-F.).

141

River and Albany. It is found in lowlying areas, probably swampy in winter,
usually on grey or blackish organic sands. In this type of habitat, G. panicu-
latus is usually abundant, but because of its delicate habit and dark coloration
is easily overlooked. The collections cited below considerably increase the
known range of the species.

Newbev 2394, 16.1.1966. 5 miles [8 km] NW. Cape Riche, PERTH (ft, I'r.); Orchard 4340.
8 xii 1974, Long Swamp ca 10 km directly NE. of Augusta, AK, CANB. PERTH (ft); Orchard
4345 8 xii. 1974, Scott River Road, ca 9 km SE. of Alexandra Bridge, AK. CANB. PERTH
( fl ) ■ Orchard 4346, 9.xii. 1974. ca 25 km E. of Augusta on Canebrake Road 1 km N. of Scott
River AK CANB PERTH (fl.); Orchard 4349. 9. xii. 1974, 30 krfi-E. of Alexandra Bridge at
corner of Canebrake Road and Stewart Road. AK. CANB. PERTH (IT); Orchard 4373,
11 xii. 1974, ca 3 km north of Mt. Erankland turnoff on Walpole-Mt. Frankland road, AK.
CANB, PERTH (fl.); Orchard 4384, 11. xii. 1974, 6 km south of Tonebridge, AK, CANB.
PERTH (fl.); Orchard 4386, 11. xii. 1974, 2 km north of Lake Unicup. AK, CANB. PERTH
(fl )■ Orchard 4394, 1 2.xii 1 974, 9 km south of Mt. Barker on Albany Highway. AK. CANB,
PERTH (IT); Orchard 4397, 1 3,xii. 1974. Palmdale Road ca 8 km west of Manvpeak. AK.
CANB PERTH (fl.); Orchard 4398. 1 3,xii. 1 974, Lake Corinup north of Manypeak, AK
(0 fr.j; Orchard 4399. 1 3,xii. 1974, Lake Warburton Road ca 12 km north of Manypeak.
AK. CANB, PERTH (fl., I'r.); Orchard 4422, 15. xii. 1974. Fitzgerald River National Park
ca 12 km north of Qualup Homestead, AK, CANB, PERTH (fl.).

These collections also show that G. paniculatus is more variable than
previously thought. The leaves range from terete to distinctly flattened and
linear and the fruits vary in shape from ovoid to turbinate (occasionally de-
pressed globose) and from densely pilose on the ribs to completely glabrous.
All. however, comply with the key characters described earlier (Orchard, 1975).
G. paniculatus is closely allied to G. pusillus, with which it is sometimes found
in the held. See under the latter species for distinguishing characteristics.

36. Gonocarpus hexandrus (F. Muell.) Orchard

This anomalous and variable species had not been collected for over 50
years when my previous treatment went to press. Further collections have
now been made, and it seems that the plant is not as rare as previously thought,
at least so far as the subspecies serratus and integrifolius are concerned. Both
are weak, multistemmed shrubs to I m tall, found invariably on the banks of
streams, usually in reddish sandy clay. All were sterile or only in very young
bud in December. Leaf shape and size was very variable, casting doubt on
the validity of keeping these two subspecies distinct. The plants grouped under
subspecies integrifolius have leaves varying from broadly lanceolate (3 0 x
1 0 cm) to linear (2 0 x 0-3 cm) and ± entire to 4-5-serrate. the teeth being
fine, almost hair-like, and up to ca 0-5 mm long. The four plants included in
subspecies serrata have generally broader leaves, ovate, the lower ones 2-5-
5 0 cm long, 1-0-1 -2 cm wide, coarsely 6-8-serrate with distinctly deltoid
teeth 2-3 mm long. While the plants of subsp. integrifolius were always
glabrous (except for a few soft hairs on the new growth), the plants of one
population of subsp. serratus were either glabrous (Orchard 4352) or scabrous
(Orchard 435 1 ). In this case the glabrous plants were in young bud, while the
scabrous plants were all sterile (early December).

Haloragis lanceolata R.Br. ex Benth.. tentatively placed in the synonymy
of G. hexandrus subsp. hexandrus in my previous paper, may be better included
in G. pusillus, as the description quite closely matches the new’ collections of the
latter.

The new collections of G. hexandrus are as follows.

G. hexandrus subsp. serratus (Schindler) Orchard

Orchard 4350, 9. xii. 1974. Barlee Brook at Barlee Road crossing, 25 km S. of Nannup, AK,
CANB, PERTH (fl.); Orchard 4351, 4352, 9. xii. 1974, Barlee Brook at Dickson (Tower) Road
crossing, AK, CANB, PERTH (fl.); Orchard 4360, 10. xii. 1974, 15 km south-west of Pemberton
on Yeagarup Road, AK, CANB, PERTH (fl.).

142

G. hexandrus subsp. integrifolius (Schindler) Orchard

Orchard 4321. 4324, 7.xii . 1 974. Big Brook, Bussell Highway, 5 km north of Margaret River
township, AK, CANB. PERTH (IT): Orchard 4329, 7,xii. 1974, Margaret River at The Rapids,
AK. CANB, PERTH ( st. ) ; Orchard 4356, lO.xii. 1974, ca 20 km SW. of Pemberton at Neanup
Swamp, AK, CANB. PERTH (st.); Orchard 4389, 1 2.xii. 1974, Amarillup Swamp, ca 25 km
NNW. of Denmark. AK, CANB, PERTH (IT).

Acknowledgements

The Curators of the Western Australian Herbarium (PERTH) and Her-
barium Australiense (CANB) kindly provided facilities for examining their
collections. The patience of Mr Roy Pullen, who endured numerous detours
in search of elusive Haloragaceae during a collecting trip in Western Australia
in 1974, is much appreciated.

The field work was supported by an Australian Biological Resources Study
Grant.

References

George, A. S., and K. F, Kenneally (1974). Flora, in, J. M. Miles and A. A. Burbidge
(ed.l, A biological survey of the Prince Regent River Reserve, North-West Kimberley,
Western Australia. Wildlife Research Bulletin 3. W. Aust. Dept. Fisheries & Wildlife.
Orchard, A. E. (1975). Taxonomic revisions in the family Haloragaceae. I. The genera
Haloragis, Haloragodendron. Glischrocarvon, MezieUa and Gonocarpits. Bull. Auckland
Inst. Mid. 10: I 299

143

INDEX TO NAMES

Gonocarpus

Gonocarpus sect. Gonocarpus
sect. Simplum Orch.
benthamii Orch.
chinensis (Lour.) Orch.

subsp. chinensis

confertifolius (F. Muell.) Orch.

var. confertifolius

var. helmsii Orch.
diflfusus (Diels) Orch.

eremophilus Orch

halconensis (Merr.) Orch
hexandrus (F. Muell.) Orch.

subsp. integrifolius (Schindl.) Orch.

subsp. serratus (Schindl.) Orch

implexus Orch.
intricatus (Benth.) Orch.
lanceolate i R.Br. ex Benth.
leptothecus (F. Muell.) Orch.
pithyoides Nees

paniculatus (R.Br. ex Benth.) Orch.
pusillus (R.Br. cx Benth.) Orch

rudis ( Benth.) Orch

sanguineus (Merr. & Perry) Orch
simplex (R.Br. ex Britt.) Orch.

Haloragis

aculeolata Benth.
acutangula F. Muell
f. acutangula

f. occidentalis Orch

aspera Lindl

chinensis (Lour.) Merr.

digyna l.abill.

dura Orch.

exalata F. Muell.

foliosa Benth.

hamata Orch.
odontocarpa F. Muell.

pedicelktla Schindl

scoparia Fen/ 1
stricla R.Br. ex Benth.
trigonocarpa F. Muell.
uncat i pda Orch.
viridis Schindl.

Haloragodendron

glandulosum Orch

26, 129

Page

133
138
138
135

134

134
140
140
140

135
138
134

142

143
142
134

136
142
134
138

138, 140
137, 142
136

133
138
126

129, 131
131, 133
126
126, 133
126, 131

134

132
127

133
129, 130
129, 131

129
133
129, 131
133
126
129
133
133
133

144

Studies in the genus Acacia (Mimosaceae) — 6
— Miscellany —

By B. R. Maslin

Abstract

Four new, phyllodinous, endemic. Western Australian species of Acacia
are described: A. curvata sp. nov., A. roycei sp. nov., A. sciophanes sp. nov. and
A. sibina sp. nov.

A lull description of A. aciphylla Bentli. is provided. In Western Australia
this name has been misapplied to the species here described as A. sibina.

The new name, A. tetanophylla, is given to the taxon A. triptycha var.
pitngens E. Pritzel.

All species are illustrated and their distribution mapped.

Introduction

The six species dealt with in this paper are referable to Bentham’s Series
Calamiformes, Juliflorae and Pungentes. These Series will not be revised by me
for some time but as it is desirable to have the species names available, I have
decided to describe them now, prior to the revision.

The term obloid was introduced in a previous paper (Maslin 1975, p. 392).
The term was originally used to describe flower heads but subsequently it has
been found useful in describing other three-dimensional structures found in
Acacia , especially seeds. Therefore, the original definition of the term obloid
is here expanded to encompass any three dimensional structure, oblong in
plane view (normally with round ends), whose length to width ratio ranges
from 6:5 to 2:1.

In most cases only a small selection of specimens is cited under each taxon.
A complete list of specimens seen is given at the end of this paper.

I. Acacia aciphylla Benth., Linnaea 26:627 (1855). Lectotype: Swan River,
Drummond I V : 1 4 (K.; iso: P. K. MEL, PERTH), lecto. now — Figure I.

At the Western Australian Herbarium (PERTH) the name A. aciphylla
Benth. has, in the past, been misapplied to specimens of the taxon described
below (p. 1 55) as A. sibina Maslin sp. nov. Because of the confusion surround-
ing the name A. aciphylla , a description of this species is here provided.

Dense shrub to I -3 m tall, dividing near ground level into many spreading to
ascending branches; bark grey; branches terete, glabrous, normally red-brown
towards apex: new shoots slightly resinous, light green. Stipules caducous.
Pliyllodes acicular, 60-120 (150-170) mm long, ca. I mm diam., decurrent
(i.e. pulvinus absent, no articulation between phyllode base and branch), i
rhombic in cross section (almost terete), ascending, rigid, glabrous (except on
upper surface at extreme base where they are densely tomentose), light green to
subglaucous; apex tapered into a straight, brown, pungent mucro; nerves
numerous, close together, slightly raised, those on the four angles of the phyl-
lodes slightly broader than the rest; pulvinus absent. Gland inconspicuous,
situated ca. 1 mm above base of phyllode. Inflorescences simple, to 4 per node:
peduncles 2-3 mm long, glabrous or puberulous; receptacles 3-5 mm long,
glabrous or puberulous; /lower heads obloid, 6-7 mm long just prior to anthesis.
Flowers normally 5-merous; calyx 1/2 2/3 length of corolla, divided for
] /4 _i /3 its length into ± oblong lobes, tube sparsely to moderately puberulous

145

towards base, obscurely 5-nerved; petals 2 mm long, glabrous, obscurely I -
nerved. Legumes linear, to 60 mm long and 2 mm wide. coriaceous, brittle,
raised over seeds, glabrous, greyish brown; margins not thickened, slightly
contracted between seeds, yellow. Seeds (few seen) longitudinal in legume,
obloid to ellipsoid, a little compressed, ca. 2-5 mm long. 1 -8 mm wide, mottled,
light brown: pleurogram obscure, horseshoe-shaped, open towards the
hilum; areole less than 0-5 mm long; funicle gradually thickened into a con-
voluted. translucent, yellow aril.

Distribution: (Figure 7) Western Australia: Not a particularly common species.
Most collections of A. aciphylla have been made in the Tardun aiea (about 35
km southeast of Mullewa) but there is one gathering from between Pithara and
Bindi Bindi (about 200 km south of Tardun). It is likely that future sampling
of suitable habitats will reveal A. aciphylla in the intervening region between
these two widely separated areas.

Habitat: This species has been collected in both yellow sand and red-brown
rockv loam in dense “Wodjil” scrub (Acaeia-Melaleuca-Casuarina association).
It has also been found on lateritic hills.

Flowering and fruiting period: All the flowering specimens of A. aciphylla at
hand were collected in late August. Judging from these specimens the flowering
period would probably extend from late July to mid-September. Legumes with
some mature seeds have been collected in late October.

Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA:— 85 mi (13-5 km) west ofCanna,/. S. Beard
721 1 ( PERTH); Between Bindi Bindi and Pithara, H'. E. Blackall 3638 (PERTH); 50 km from
Mullewa towards Morawa, B. R. Muslin 3358 (CANB, K, NSW, NY, PERTH).

According to Bentham’s classification (1864) A. aciphylla belongs to the
Juliftofae-Stenopbyllae. The species can be easily recognised by its character-
istic phyllodes which are rigid, glabrous, multistriate, more or less rhombic in
cross section, pungent, decurrent and which lack pulvini. These last two
characters are very unusual but occur also in A. longiphyllodinea Maiden, the
species most closely allied to A. aciphylla. The former species is readily dis-
tinguished from A. aciphylla by its pruinose branchlets, its longer, less rigid,
coarsely pungent phyllodes (not as sharp as in A. aciphylla ), and larger in-
florescences and legumes.

Tindale (1972. p. 272) stated that A. wanyu Tindale is allied to A. aciphylla
and A. longiphyllodinea. Although all these species are referable to Bent ham's
Julifiorae-Sienopbyllae there is only a superficial resemblance between A. wanyu
and the latter two. Acacia wanyu differs markedly from A. aciphylla and
A. longiphyllodinea in its phyllode and legume morphology and may be dis-
tinguished from them by the following characters (parameters given in brackets
refer to the latter two species): phyllodes hairy (glabrous), more slender, less
pungent and most significantly possess a definite rugose basal pulvinus which is
articulate on the branch (phyllodes decurrent and lack pulvini); inflorescence
spikes less compact; calyx more deeply dissected; legumes 6-10 mm wide,
moniliform, thickly coriaceous to woody, conspicuously wrinkled when dry
(2-5 mm wide, flat but raised over seeds. ; coriaceous to brittle but not woody,
not wrinkled when dry); seeds 6-9 mm long and 3-4 mm wide (2-5-5 mm long,

I -8-3 mm wide).

Bentham (1855, p. 627) in his original description of A. aciphylla noted that
perhaps A. leptoneura Benth. var. pungens Meisn. represented the same taxon
as his new species. In 1864 (p. 399) Bentham treated the varietal epithet,
pungens , as a synonym of A. aciphylla and listed the type of I his variety (Preiss
Q7 6) among the specimens cited. However, Bentham noted that he had not seen
the Preiss specimen. I have examined the types of both A. aciphylla and A.

146

Figure I — Acacia aciphylla Benth. A--Upper portion of branch showing sessile, obloid
flower heads. B — Flower. C Phyllode apex. D Phyllode in transverse section showing
rhombic outline. E — Decurrent phyllode base (note absence of pulvinus). F — Legume
(slightly immature). G — Seed (mottled).

A from W. E. Blackall 3638; B-E from B. R. Maslin 3358; F-G from J. S. Beard 7211.

147

leptoneura var. pungens and it is clear that they represent different taxa of which
the latter will be dealt with in a forthcoming publication.

Pritzel (1904 p 306) described a variety. A. aciphylla Benth. var. leptostachys ,
and based it on Diels 4759. A portion of this type is at PERTH and it is clear
that it represents the same taxon described by Maiden et Blakely ( I )-/. p. -- ) as
A. sessilispica. Although A. sessilispica also occurs in the Juhflorae-Steno-
phyllae, it is not particularly closely related to A. aciphylla.

Based on a specimen collected by F. E. Victor from Kununoppin, Morrison
(1912, p. 55) provided a description of legumes tor the plant he believed to be
A. aciphylla. I have not seen Victor’s specimen but it is unlikely to be A.
aciphylla because the legumes of this species do not accord with Morrisons
description, i.e. they are not stipitate, their apices not hooked, and the funicle-
aril is yellow (not white as described by Morrison). Also, there is no indication
from the evidence available to date that A. aciphylla extends as fai east as
Kununoppin.

2. Acacia curvata Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 2.

Fnite x ramosissimus ad 1 - 3 m altus, ad ca. 3 m diam.; ramuli dense puberuli demum
glabra Stipulae aliquantum cadueae. Phyllodia acinaciforma, mamfeste recurva, 10-20 mm
fonga 1 - S-3 mm lata, plana, glabra (sureuli interdum puberuli), pungentia; ulrmque 3-
nervata. nervis discrelis. Gians obscura. 0-5-7 mm supra pulvinum posita. lnflorescentia
simplex- peduncutis 5-9 mm longis, glabris; bracteae basales pedimculi 1-15 mm longae
concavae, curvatae, acutae, ad basin dilatatae. fuscae: capnula aurea, globulosa, 13-25
floribus Florae 5-merae; sepala libera: petala glabra. Legumen ad 35 mm longum, 4-4-5
mm latum, curvum. planum, glabrum. Semina ((ere mature) in legumine longitudinalia, late
obloidea, 2-5 mm longa. turgida fusca.

Type: 5-5 mi (8-8 km) SE of Kundip, Western Australia. 24 July 1965, K. Newbey 1765 (holo:
PERTH; iso: CANB, K. NY).

Harsh, much branched shrub to 1 - 3 m tall and ca. 3 m diam., diffuse and
open when young but becoming dense and rounded with age, single-stemmed or
branching at ground level; bark grey and fissured: branchlets teiete, obscurely
nerved, densely puberulous (becoming glabrous with age). Stipules somewhat
caducous, normally narrowly triangular, 0-5-1 mm long, scarious. Phyllodes
acinaciform, prominently recurved. 10-20 mm long, 1-5-3 mm wide, con-
gested. flat, slightly thickened, rigid, glabrous (sometimes puberulous on new
shoots), medium to olive green, base oblique; nerves 3 on each surface of
phyllode, upper nerves sometimes not as pronounced as the central and lower
ones, yellowish, prominently raised (when dry), not anastomosing, marginal
nerves apparent but not thickened: apex narrowed into a subulate, pungent,
straight, brown mucro 1-2 mm long; pulvinus very reduced ( 0-5 mm long),

slightly dilated. Gland not prominent, situated on upper margin of phyllode
0-5-7 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences simple. I (2) per node; peduncles
5-9 mm long (slightly longer when in fruit), glabrous; basal peduncular bracts
solitary, I 1-5 mm long, concave, curved, acute, dilated at base, normally
puberulous, dark brown; flower heads golden yellow, globular, with 13-25
flowers. Bracteoles oblong, ca. 0-5 mm long, laminae barely differentiated
from claws. Flowers 5-merous; sepals ca. 1 2 length of petals, tree to base,
narrowly oblong but often slightly narrowed towards base. keeled and
indexed at apex, normally sparsely puberulous, brown; petals 1-1-5 mm long,
free, glabrous, yellow, obscurely I -nerved; ovary tomentose. Legumes to 35
mm long, 4-4-5 mm wide, curved, firmly chartaceous and somewhat brittle,
flat (not terete), slightly undulate, prominently raised over seeds (bulges pro-
minent on alternate surfaces of legume), slightly shiny, glabrous, brown, abruptly

Figure 2 - Acacia curvata sp. nov. A — Upper portion of the branch system. B- Node
showing stipule (s) and recurved, 3-nerved phyllode with pungent mucro (m) and reduced
pulvinus (p). C— Legume. D Seed, nearly mature (side view). E — Seed, nearly mature
(end view). F — Flower.

A-B from H. E. Knox 8; C-E from B. R. Maslin 2527; F from K. Newbey 1765 (the Type).

148

149

contracted at apex, basal stipe absent; margins ± thickened, barely contracted
between seeds. Seeds (nearly mature) longitudinal in legume, broadly obloid,
4 2-5 mm long, turgid, narrowed towards periphery, dark brown, slightly
shiny pleurogram horseshoe-shaped, open towards the hilum, obscure, aieole
ca . 0-5 mm long; funicle filiform, ca. 1 mm long, abruptly expanded into a
thickened straight (not folded) obliquely situated aril.

Distribution: (Figure 7) Western Australia: Sporadic in southern regions from
near Ravensthorpe east to Wittenoom Hills (about 50 km NE of Esperance).

Habitat: Clay, clay-loam or lateritic gravel.

Flowering period: Most collections in flower were gathered from May to July,
but one flowering specimen seen was collected in December.

Fruiting period: Legumes with near-mature seeds have been collected in Dec-
ember.

Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA:--Wittenoom Hills, 9 June 197_, T. Daniels
sn (PERTH); South of Ravensthorpe, A.S. George 4422 (MEL. NSW, PERTH); Near
Scaddan H E. Knox 8 (PERTH); Approximately 20 km due SW of Scaddan, B. R. Maslm
2527 (PERTH).

Using Bentham's classification (1864) A. curxata should be placed in the
Pungentes-Plurinerves, but it is not particularly closely related to the other
members of this group. In its general phyllode morphology A. curxata super-
ficially resembles A. campylophyUa Benth. but is readily distinguished from that
species by its puberulous branchlets, reduced pulvinus which is articulate on the
branch (in A. campy loph vlla the pulvinus is lacking and the lower margin ol the
phyllode is continuous with the branch rib), smaller bracteoles and flower heads,
and curved, less chartaceous legumes. Acacia curxata has some affinities with
A. latipes Benth. but its prominently recurved phyllodes with reduced pulvini
readily distinguish it from that species ( Acacia latipes has straighter phyllodes
which lack pulvini).

The specific epithet refers to the characteristic recurved phyllodes.

3. Acacia roycei Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 3.

Frutex vet arbor parva ad 3 - 5 m altus, densiuscula, odorata; ramuli teretes, saepe ad
apicem minute sericei sed dcinde glabri. Phyllodia acicularia. 40-75 mm tonga. 1 mm diarn. tere-
tia. aseendentia. rigida. recta ad leviler curvata. subtiliter striata, inter venium minute sericeum
sed dcinde glabrum. pungentia. Gians saepe obscura, 5-17 mm supra pulvinum, raro etiam
glande altera 50 mm supra pulvinum posita. tnflorescentia simplex; pedunculi 8-12 mm
longi ; capitula lutea. globulosa, 55-75 floribus. Florae 5-merae (raro 6-merae); sepala fere
ad basin irregulariter lobata; petaia glabra. Legumen curvum, plerumque ad ca. 50 mm long-
urn, 4-5 mm lattim, chartaceum, glabrum. Semina (immatura) in legumine longitudionala.

Type: About 6 km W of Overlander-Denham road towards Tamala, Shark Bay area. Western
Australia, 6 Aue. 1974. B R. Maslin 3680 (holo: PERTH; iso: B, CANB, K. MEL. NSW.
NY, PERTH). "

Rather dense, fragrant shrub or small tree to 3-3 m tall, either single-
stemmed or dividing at ground level into many spreading-erect branches;
new shoots densely appressed-puberulous (hairs pale yellow); bark grey,
fissured on main trunks, smooth on branches; branchlets terete, very obscurely
nerved, red-brown but with a light grey longitudinally fissured epidermis, often
minutely sericeous at apex but becoming glabrous with age. Stipules triangular
to very narrowly triangular, more or less caducous (the thickened bases remain-
ing after the scarious laminae have fallen). Phyllodes acicular, 40-75 mm long,
1 mm diameter, terete (circular in cross section), slightly narrowed near base,
ascending, rigid, straight to slightly curved, minutely sericeous between nerves
but becoming glabrous with age, green to greyish green, finely multistriate

150

(lamina sometimes slightly depressed between nerves — when dry); apex
narrowed into a straight, subulate, pungent, brown mucro ca. 2 mm long;
pulvinus 0 5 1 mm long, slightly dilated, smooth, yellow. Gland often obscure,
situated on upper surface ot phyllode 5-17 mm above pulvinus, rarely an
additional gland above middle of phyllode (ca. 50 mm above pulvinus). In-
florescences simple, 1-2 per node; peduncles 8-12 mm long, sparsely to moder-
ately minutely antrorsely hairy; basal peduncular brads rather caducous;
flower heads bright medium yellow, globular, with 55-75 rather densely packed
flowers. Bradeoles ca. I mm long, sparsely puberulous: claws narrowly
oblong or narrowed towards base; laminae - ovate, keeled, light brown.
Flowers 5-merous (rarely a few flowers in the head 6-merous); sepals ca. I 2
length of petals, irregularly divided almost to base into narrowly oblong or
slightly spathulate sparsely puberulous lobes; petals I -5-2 mm long, connate
for 3/4 their length, glabrous, obscurely I -nerved: oyarv glabrous or sparsely
papillose. Legumes narrowly oblong, curved, normally to ca. 50 mm long.
4-5 mm wide, chartaceous, flat but raised over seeds, glabrous, light brown to
yellowish brown, abruptly narrowed at both ends; margins barely thickened,
normally slightly contracted' between seeds. Seeds (immature) longitudinal in
legume: funicle oblong and very short, abruptly expanded into a large bright
yellow aril which is obliquely positioned on seed.

Distribution: (Figure 7) Western Australia: Occurring in an area from the
vicinity of Nerren Nerren Station (90 km N of Murchison River on North West
Coastal Highway) NNW to near Nilemah Station in the Shark Bay district.

Habitat: Beard (1976) states that the topography in which this species * occurs
is very uniform and consists of red sandplain with slight undulations. The
vegetation is an Acacia-Casuarina thicket with occasional emergent low trees
and a ground layer of smaller shrubs. I have made a number of collections of
A. roycei and found it growing in red-brown to light brown loam or yellow sand
in Closed-scrub with A. longt&pinea A. Morrison, A. wiseana C. A. Gardner
(occasionally A. ramulosa W. V. Fitzg.). Bartksia ashbyi Bak. f. and Eucalyptus
roycei Carr, Carr et George.

Flowering Period: August-October.

Fruiting period : Legumes with mature seeds have not been seen. Judging from
the one specimen available with immature fruits, ripe seed would be found in
about mid-November.

Selected specimens WESTERN AUSTRALIA: -East of Nerren Nerren, J. S. Beard 7115
(PERTH); Hamelin Pool. W. E. B/ackall 546 (PERTH); 36 km S of Overlander Roadhouse
on North West Coastal Highway, B. R. Muslin 2780 (CANB, K. PERTH); 22-5 km S of
Billabong Roadhouse towards Geraldton, North West Coastal Highway, B. R. Maslin 3719
(BRI, PERTH)

Using Bentham’s classification (1864) A. roycei should be placed in the
Pungentes-Plurinerves, but it is not closely related to the other members of this
group. Acacia roycei is readily recognised by a combination of characters, viz.
rigid, acicular, long-mucronate phvllodes, and globular, pedunculate flower
heads each bearing over 50 flowers.

At the Western Australian Herbarium A. roycei has in the past been referred
either to an undescribed variety of A. leptoneura Benth. or to A. triptycha var.
tenuis Maiden ( A. fragilis Maiden et Blakely). However, it is not closely
related to either of these taxa.

The species is named in honour of Mr Robert Dunlop Royce, Curator of
the Western Australian Herbarium from 1960 until his retirement in 1974.

* Acacia roycei is referred to in Beard's work as "A. sp. inedit. (JSB 71 15)”.

151

Figure 3 — Acacia roycei sp. nov. A — Upper portion of branch. B — Phyllode (with insets
of base and apex). C — Legume valve. D — Flower. E~ Bracteole.

All from B. R. Maslin 3680 (the Type).

152

4. Acacia sciophanes Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 4.

Frutex ad 2-3 m alta, diffusa, exilis; rami plerumque penduli llexuosi, glabri ad strigillisi.
Slipulae caducae. Pyllodia linearia, 90-150 mm longa. 102 mm lata, eurvata, in sectione
transversali circularia ad quadrangularia, manifeste 4-costata (cost is sulcisquealternantibus).
Gians 1-2 mm supra pulvinum posiia. Inflorescentia simplex; pedunciili 5-6 mm longi; capi-
mla lutea, globulosa, 25 3 1 floribus. Florae 5-merae: calyx breviler triangulari-lobatus;
peiala glabra. Legumen lineare. ad 100 mm longum. 102 mm latum, teres Semina in
legumine longitudinalia, obliodea ad ellipsoidea, 3-3-5 x 1 -5 mm, maculata.

Type: 15 km west of Mukinbudin towards Welbungin, Western Australia. 13 Oct. 1975,
B R. Maslin 3970 (holo; PERTH: iso: AD, B, BM. BR1, CANB, G, K MEL NSW NY
P, PERTH, US). '

Diffuse, openly branched, wispy shrub to 2-3 m tall, dividing near ground
level (orto 0-6 m above) into a number of main trunks; bark light grey, smooth
but finely fissured at extreme base of trunk; branches mostly pendulous,
flexuose, terete (but ribbed towards apex), slightly resinous, glabrous to strigillose.
light brown towards apex but red-brown with a light grey peeling epidermis with
age. Stipules caducous. Phyliodes Coarsely filiform, 90-150 mm long, 1-2 mm
wide, curved, spreading, very slightly resinuous. slightly laterally compressed,
prominently 4-ribbed (ribs alternating with 4 equally prominent grooves), ribs
yellowish and glabrous, grooves concave subglaucous and glabrous or strigillose;
apex straight or uncinate, not pungent, brown; pulvinus 1-2 mm long, obscurely
wrinkled, glabrescent. Gland situated on upper rib of phyllode 1-2 mm above
pulvinus, lamina tissue slightly swollen around gland, orifice distinct (oblong,

- 0-5 mm long), lip indistinct. Inflorescences simple, normally arising from
near base of new shoot. 1-2 per axil; peduncles 5-6 mm long, slightly longitudi-
nally sulcate (when dry), glabrous, or strigose at base, resinous; basal peduncular
bracts caducous, solitary. triangular, 1 mm long; receptacles slightly
obloid, glabrous; flower heads bright yellow, globular, with 25-31 loosely
arranged flowers. Bracteoles ca. 0-5 mm long ( calyx in length); claws
linear; laminae ovate, puberulous, slightly keeled. Flowers 5-merous, slightly
resinous; calyx 1,4 length of corolla, very shallowly divided (for ca. 1/6 its
length) into broadly triangular ciliolate lobes, tube sparsely puberulous and
nerveless; petals 2-2-5 mm long, connate for 2/3 their length, not reflexed
at anthesis, glabrous, very obscurely 1 -nerved: ovary very shortly stipitate,
densely tomentose. Legumes linear, to 100 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, terete,
sometimes twisted, firmly chartaceous, silvery-strigillose: margins slightly
contracted between seeds (indentations shallowly concave); marginal nerves
scarcely thickened, broad, glabrous, yellowish. Seeds longitudinal in legume,
obloid to ellipsoid. 3-3-5 x I - 5 mm, slightly compressed, mottled, a dark brown
line extending around periphery, slightly shiny; pleurogram Ti‘- to V-shaped,
open towards the hilum, obscure; areole 0 -3-0-4 mm long; funicie convoluted,
expanded into a pileiform white aril.

Distribution: (Figure 7) Western Australia: Known only from between
Mukinbudin and Bencubbin.

Habitat: Yellow sand in tall dense sandplain scrub with Acacia longispinea
A. Morrison, A. resinomarginea W. V. Fitzg., A. signata F. Muell. and Casuarina
acutivalvis F. Muell.

Flowering period: The specimens at hand are all in flower and were collected
from late September to mid-October. Judging from these it is likely that the
flowering period would extend from mid-September to November.

Fruiting period: As with A. anfractuosa Maslin (see discussion below) the pre-
vious year's legumes are present on A. sciophanes during the next flowering
season. Only one collection of specimens with legumes has been made and this
was gathered in mid-October. These legumes contained some mature seeds.

153

Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: — Near Mukinbudin 80 km N of Mefredin,
W. E. Blackall 848 (PERTH); West of Welbungin, C. A. Gardner 2754 (PER I H).

Using Bentham’s classification (1864) A. sciophanes should be placed in the
Calamiformes- Uninerves, but it is not related to the other members of this

Figure 4 Acacia sciophanes sp. nov. A — Upper portion of branch showing pendulous
habit. B — Legume (attached to receptacle). C— Bracteole. D — Flower. E — Phyllode
base showing prominent ribs (r), obscurely wrinkled pulvinus (p) and gland (g). F Phyllode
in traverse section showing quadrangular outline. G — Seed (mottled).

A. B, E-G from B. R. Maslin 3970 (the Type); C-D from C. A. Gardner 2754.

154

group. Acacia sciophanes has its true affinities with A. anfractuosa Maslin,
another species which is difficult to fit into Bentham’s classification ( Maslin 1 976.
p. v /). I hese two taxa share the same distinctive wispy growth habit and have
pendulous, flexuose branches, they also have similar inflorescence and legume
The main difference between them lies in the nature of their
pnyllodes. Jn A. sciophanes the phyllodes are more or less circular to quad-
rangular in cross-section and have four, equally spaced longitudinal ribs (altern-
ating with four equally prominent grooves) running the entire length of the
pnyllodes. Acacia anfractuosa on the other hand has phyllodes which are
either ± flat or rhomboidal in cross-section and which have 3-7 nerves on each
face. The known distributions of the two species do not overlap.

The variant of A. anfractuosa from between Mukinbudin and Welbungin
referred to previously by me is A. sciophanes (Maslin, 1976 p. 98).

The specific epithet refers to the growth habit which is very diffuse and open
imparting a phantom-like appearance to this species when seen from a distance.

5. Acacia sibina Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 5.

Fnitex 1-5-3 m a jigs; raimili stricti, ascendentes, glabri sed supra pulvinum dense
tomentosi. Stipulae caducae. Phyllodia aeieulara, (60) 80-125 (145) mm longa, I mm diam.
teretia, ascendentia. aliquantum rigida. glabra (sed prope basin puberula), subti liter striata
aliquantum pungentia. dans obscura, 1-2 mm supra pulvinum posita. Inflorescentia
simplex, pier unique 2/nodum; pechmculi 1-5-4 mm Iongi, puberuli; capitufo cylindrica,
ante anihesin 7-20 (26) mm longa. Horae 5-merae: calyx breviter triangulari-lobatus;
petata glabra, l-nervata. Legitmina (immatura) linearia, ad 115 mm longa et 5 mm lata.
Semina (immatura) in legumine longitudlnalia.

[Acacia cyperophvlla auct. non F. Muell.: Maiden, Forest Flora N.S.W. 6:277(1917).]
| Acacia aciphylla in sched.- PERTH].

Type: Mount Gibson Station, between Wubin and Pavnes Find, Western Australia 29
1976, B. R. Maslin 4230 (holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K, MEL, NY)

Shrub 1 -5-3 m tall, normally moderately branched at ground level; bark
dark grey, fissured on main trunks towards their bases, otherwise smooth;
branches straight, ascending, terete, very obscurely ribbed, glabrous but densely
tomentose immediately above pulvinus. reddish brown with a light grey (often
fissured) epidermis, lenticels quite apparent; branchlets light brown. Stipules
caducous. Phyllodes acicular, (60) 80-125 (145) mm long, I mm diam.. terete
(circular in cross section), ascending, rather rigid, straight to slightly curved,
glabrous (except on upper surface near pulvini where they are densely tomen-
tose), grey-green (when dry), light green to slightly greyish green (when fresh),
finely multistriate (striae not, or barely visible to unaided eye); apex straight
or slightly uncinate, brown, somewhat pungent; pulvinus slightly dilated,
orange, normally glabrous and obscurely wrinkled abaxially, concave and
densely puberulous adaxiallv. Gland inconspicuous, situated on upper surface
of phyllode 1-2 mm above pulvinus, a shallow densely tomentose groove
extending from the gland to the pulvinus. Inflorescences simple, normally 2 per
node: peduncles 1-5-4 mm long, moderately to densely puberulous (hairs
normally antrorse); basal peduncular bracts absent at anthesis; receptacles
glabrous; flower heads medium yellow, cylindrical. 7-20 (26) mm long just
prior to anthesis. Bracteoles 0-8-1 -3 mm long; claws linear, puberulous
towards apex; laminae ovate, slightly keeled, slightly indexed, ciliolate. Flowers
5-merous; calyx slightly exceeding 1/2 length of corolla, divided for 1/6-1 /4
its length into broadly triangular sparsely ciliolate lobes, tube obscurely 5-
nerved and either glabrous or sparsely puberulous; petals ca. I -5-2 mm long,
connate for ca. 1/2 their length, glabrous, I -nerved; ovary glabrous to densely
papillose. Legumes (immature) linear, to 115 mm long and 5 mm wide,
firmly chartaceous, flat, glabrous, greyish brown; margins barely thickened
variably contracted between seeds. Seeds (immature) longitudinal in legume;
funiele filiform, expanded into a thickened convoluted aril.

155

156

Distribution: (Figure 7) Western Australia: It appears that A. sibina has a
disjunct distribution. However, future sampling of the region between the
western and eastern parts ol its range may reveal A. sibina there. The western
pait of its range extends from Mullewa to Lake Moore and it is from this area
that most collections have been made. The eastern part of the range extends
from Comet Vale northeast to near Warburton. It is possible that A. sibina will
eventually be recorded for Northern Territory and/or South Australia.

Habitat. Acacia sibina grows under a variety of conditions. In the western
pait of its range it occurs in sandy gravel, light brown to red loam, or yellow
sand in dense Wodjil scrub (Acacia- Melaleuca-C as uarina association ). West
of Warburton A. sibina grows in red sand in hummock grassland with Triodia
while northeast of Lavcrton it is common in patches on red sand with occasional
Mulga ( Acacia aneura F. Muell. ex Benth.).

Flowering and fruiting period: Flowers from August to October. Young
legumes are generally found in late October or early November, though young
legumes were present on one specimen collected from the Great Victoria Desert
in June. Legumes with mature seeds have not been seen by me.

Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Mullewa-Pindar road, C. Phillips for A. M.
Ashby 4487 (MEL, PERTH): 8 mi (12-8 km) W of Pindar, J. S. Beard 6689 (NSW, PERTH);
Karara Station, J. S Beard 7197 (PERTH); 42 mi (67 km) SW of Warburton Mission, A. S.
George 3977; Cornel Vale, ./. H. Maiden s.n.. Sept. 1909 (NSW, PERTH photograph);
16 km S of Morawa towards Perenjori, II R. Maslin 3173 (BM. PERTH); Wilroy townsite
G. Phillips 93 (NT. PERTH).

Using Bentham's classification (1864) A. sibina should be placed in the
Juliflorae-Steftopliyllae. In Western Australia it has previously been confused
with A. aciphylla Benth. (p. ... above). Acacia sibina is distinguished from
A. aciphylla by its non-decurrent, perfectly terete phyliodes, its longer, cylindrical
flower heads (obloid in A. aciphylla ), and its longer, broader legumes. In its
general phyllode and inflorescence morphology, A. sibina resembles A. cypero-
phylla F. Muell. ex Benth., but can be distinguished by its glabrous phyliodes,
shorter peduncles, narrower and less woody legumes and smooth (except on
main trunk where it is fissured) grey bark (not red and curling as on A. cvpero-
phylla).

Maiden (1917, p. 277) provisionally referred a flowering specimen collected
by himself from Comet Vale (99 km N of Kalgoorlie) to A. cyperophyUa F.
Muell. I have inspected Maiden’s specimen, which is at NSW, and found it to
be A. sibina.

The specific epithet alludes to the phyliodes whose shape resembles an
unbarbed spear.

6. Acacia tetanophylla Maslin nom. et stat. nov., based on A. triptycha F.
Muell. ex Benth. var. pungens E. Pritzel — Figure 6.

Acacia triptycha F. Muell. ex Benth. var. pungens E. Pritzel, Bot. Jb. 35:293 (1904). Lecto-
ype: Kalgan River, 4 Oct. 1901, L. Diels 4596 (PERTH), leeto nov.

Shrub 1-1-3 m tall; branches glabrous or sometimes densely strigose.
Stipules caducous. Phyliodes linear. 15-40 mm long, 11 - 5 mm wide, rigid,
terete (appearing somewhat hexagonal in cross section when fresh, but upon
drying the tissue between the nerves contracts giving the phyllode a sulcate
appearance), straight or slightly curved, glabrous, light olive green or sometimes

Figure 5 — Acacia sibina sp. nov. A Upper portion of branch system. B Phyllode (with
insets showing apex, obscurely wrinkled pulvinus and transverse section showing circular
outline). C Seed (immature). D Legume (with immature seeds). E- Flower. F
Bracteole.

A from G. Phillips 93; B, E-F from B. R. Maslin 3173; C-D from J. S. Beard 7179.

157

59156 — ( 2 )

158

I glaucous, 7-nerved (but on upper surface of phyllode 2 of these nerves unite
immediately above the gland); apex pungent; pulvinus to 0-5 mm long, not
prominently wrinkled, dilated at base. Glaiul not prominent, situated on upper
surface of phyllode 5-15 mm above pulvinus. Inflorescences simple; peduncles
4-6 mm long (to 10 mm when in truit), glabrous; basal peduncular bracts absent
at anthesis; flower heads globular, with 13 18 flowers, blowers 5-merous;
sepals tree, spathulate, brown (when dry), ciliolate at apex, claws glabrous to
puberulous; petals very obscurely I -nerved, yellow', glabrous. Legumes nar-
rowly oblong, to 37 mm long and 4 mm wide, slightly undulate, raised over
seeds, glabrous, brown; margins barely thickened, normally not contracted
between seeds, yellow. Seeds longitudinal in legume, ellipsoid to obloid but
truncated along margin adjacent to aril, slightly compressed. 2-5-3 mm long.

I '5-1 -8 mm wide, black, slightly shiny; pfeurogram not obvious; funicle
filiform, reflexed below a thickened aril which is situated obliquely on seed.

Distribution: (Figure 7) South-west Western Australia: Occurring sporadically
from just south of the Stirling Range east-northeast to the Ravensthorpe
district.

Habitat: Occurs in sand or clay (often rocky) normally near watercourses.

Flowering and fruiting period: Flowers from September to October. Mature
legumes have been collected in mid-December, but judging from some collections
the fruiting period could extend to about mid-January.

Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: -Fitzgerald River reserve. B. R Maslin 890
(CANB, PERTH ); Near West River crossing, 37 km W of Ravensthorpe towards Jerramungup,
B. R. Maslin 2579 (B. PERTH. S); Near West River crossing, K. Newbev 936D (K, PERTH).

Pritzel (1904, p. 293) described this taxon as A. triptycha F. Muell. ex
Benth. var. pungens. As it is not closely allied to A. triptycha and because it is
very distinctive morphologically, I have decided to give it specific rank. Acacia
tetanophvlla is distinguished from A. triptycha by its shorter, rigid, pungent,
6-7-nerved (not 8-nerved) phyllodes.

Using Bentham’s classification (1864) A. tetanophvlla should be placed in
the Pungentes-Plurinerves near A. sulcata R.Br. The latter species is variable
but can be distinguished from A. tetanophvlla by its generally smaller, more
slender, less pungent phyllodes and its conspicuous basal peduncular bracts.

The specific epithet refers to the characteristic rigid phyllodes. As A.
tetanophvlla is based on A. triptycha var. pungens it would be desirable to use
this varietal epithet for the species, however, this name is preoccupied viz.
A. pungens Spreng.

Acknowledgment

Mr Alex George is gratefully acknowledged for his assistance in checking
my Latin descriptions.

Figure 6 Acacia tetanopyhlla sp. nov. A Upper portion of branch system. B Legume.
C- Seed. D to F- Phyllodes (D and E upper surface of phyllode showing nerve dividing
immediately above gland (g), D fresh state with transverse sections showing nerve positions,
E -dry; F lower surface of phyllode, dry). G -Flower.

A, D-G from B. R. Maslin 890: B from It. R. Maslin 2579; C from K. Newbev 936D.

159

Figure 7— Distribution of Acacia aciphyUa, A. curvata, A. roycei, A. sciophanes, A. sibina and
A. tetanophylla.

160

References

Beard. J. S. (1976) Vegetation Survey of Western Australia 1 :250 000 Series.

The vegetation of the Ajana area. Vegmap Publications, Perth.

Bentham, G. ( 1855)— Mimosaceae. Plantae Muellerianae. Linnaea 26
603-630.

Bentiiam, G. (1864) — Flora Australiensis, vol. 2. Reeve, London.

Bentham, G. ( 1875) — Revision of the Suborder Mimoseae. Trans. Linn Soc
Lond. 30:336-664.

Maiden, J. H. (1917) — Acacia cyperophylla. The Forest Flora of New South
Wales 6:272 277. Govt. Printer, Sydney.

Maiden, J. H. and Blakely, W. F. (1927) — Description of Fifty New Species
and Six Varieties of Western and Northern Australian Acacias, and Notes
on Four other Species. J. Roy. Soc. W.A. 13:1-36, pi. I-XXII.

Maslin, B. R. ( 1 975) — Studies in the genus Acacia (Mimosaceae)- 4. A
revision of the Series Pulchellac. Nuytsia 1(5): 388 494.

Maslin, B. R. ( 1 976) Studies in the genus Acacia ( Mimosaceae)— 5. Miscel-
laneous new phyllodinous species. Nuytsia 2 (2) :96 1 02.

Morrison, A. (1912) — New or imperfectly described species of Acacia from
Western Australia. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 26 { I ) :5 1 56.

Pritzel, E. (1904) — Acacia. In L. Diels and E. Pritzel, Fragmenta Phyto-
graphiae Australiae Occidentalis. Bot. Jb. 35:276-314.

Tindale, M. D. (1972) — Notes on Australian Taxa of Acacia No. 3. Contr.
N.S.W. Herb. 4 (5) :269 275.

Index to specimens studied

This index is arranged alphabetically according to the name of the collector.
Numbers in parentheses refer to the corresponding taxon in the text.

Armitage 542 (2).

Ashby 2584 (5), 4487 (5), 4578 (I— comm. G. Phillips), 4864 (5, comm. G.
Phillips).

Barker s.n.. Sept. 1934 (5).

Beard 6427 (5), 6689 (5), 7115 (3), 7197 (5), 7208 (5), 7211 (I), 7357 (5).

Bennett 2596 (2).

Blackall 546 (3), 721 (5), 848 (4), 3638 (1).

Brooker 2750 (6).

Cole 4/43 (5).

Cough 79 (5).

Daniels s.n., 9 June 1972 (2).

Diels 4596 (6-Type).

Donner 4507 (5).

Drummond I V : 1 4 ( 1-Type).

Fairall 1 369 (5).

Gardner 2754 (4).

George 3977 (5). 4422 (2), 8092 (5).

Goodall 2105 (5).

Gratte G4 (5).

Knox 8 (2).

Luff and Birrel 51 (5).

Lullfitz 1158 (5), 1 188 (5).

Maiden s.n.. Sept. 1909, Comet Vale (5).

Maslin 890(6), 2527 (2). 2579(6), 2780(3), 3161 (3), 3173 (5), 3358 (1), 3456 (2),
3465 (6), 3466 (6), 3535 (5), 3680 (3-Type), 3719 (3), 3970 (4-Type), 4217 (5),
4230 (5-Type).

Morland M2 (5).

Newbey 936 (6), 936D (6), 1765 (2-Type), 2645 (6).

Phillips 93 (5).

Wilson 10198 (6).

161

The identity of Acacia leiophylla Benth. (Mimosaceae)

By B. R. Maslint and D. J. E. Whibley*

Abstract

Until now, the name Acacia leiophylla has been thought to refer to a Western
Australian species and has been generally regarded by most authors as a taxo-
nomic synonym of A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. (syn. A. cyanophylla Lindl.).
It is shown that this species as circumscribed here occurs in South Australia and
represents the same taxon that was subsequently described as A. ret inodes
Schlechtendal var. oniria J. M. Black ex C. M. Eardley. Acacia leiophylla is
lectotypified (the type material consists of discordant elements), described and
illustrated, its distribution mapped and its probable type locality (Kangaroo
Island, S.A.) indicated,

Introduction

In the past there has been considerable confusion concerning the application
of the name, A. leiophylla. Generally this name has been regarded as a taxo-
nomic synonym of A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. (syn. A. cyanophylla Lindl.) —
see Bentham (1864 and 1875) and Maiden (1906). In a previous paper, the
first author (Maslin 1974) suggested that Bentham may have been incorrect in
relegating A. leiophylla to synonymy under A. saligna. Having now studied
both these species and having examined the types of the names involved, we
now consider that this suggestion was correct.

The type material of Acacia leiophylla at Kew (K) consists of three sheets
two of which support flowering specimens and one supports fruiting specimens.
These sheets are labelled King George Sound.t, Baxter (erroneously given as
"Bagster" on the lectotype sheet — see below). This syntype material is a
mixture of two laxa: the flowering specimens are A. leiophylla (sensu lecto-
typico) and the fruiting ones A. pycnantha Benth. The lectotype of A. leiophylla
has been selected from the flowering specimens. It is the lower left hand speci-
men labelled “King George’s Sound, New Holland. Bagster. Hooker, 1835."
on a sheet stamped “Herbarium Benthamianum, 1854" and annotated (in
BenthanTs handwriting) “Acacia leiophylla Benth Lond. Journ 1.350".

It will be noted that the collector given on the lectotype label is “Bagster"
which is also the citation given in the original description of A. leiophylla.
However, this is an orthographic error which Bentham corrected (to “Baxter”)
in Flora Australiensis vol. 2, p. 364. Other Acacia species for which Bentham
made the same error of citation in his original description but subsequently
corrected are A. acuminata Benth., A. haxteri Benth. and A. tricpietra Benth.

According to Maiden (1909). William Baxter collected along the south
coast of Western Australia (particularly around Albany i.e. King George
Sound) and also on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. As the two taxa
represented by the syntypes of A. leiophylla do not occur naturally at Albany but
do grow on Kangaroo Island, it is reasonable to assume that the recorded type
locality. King George Sound, is an error for Kangaroo Island. The same
holds for A. triquetra Benth., a species which almost certainly is a taxonomic

t Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Agriculture, George Street South

Perth. W.A. 6151.

* Botanic Garden and State Herbarium, North Terrace, Adelaide, S.A. 5000.

X On two of the sheets this citation is abbreviated to “K. G. Sound”. This locality is

Albany on the south coast of Western Australia, about 400 km SSE of Perth.

162

synonym of A. acinacea Lindl. The type of A. triquetra is given as King George
Sound. Baxter (sphalm. ‘Bagster’) but this species does not occur at this locality.
It does, however, grow on Kangaroo Island.

The first author has compared the lectotype of A. leiophylla with the holo-
type of A. retinodes var. oraria. Although the former specimen is in flower and
the latter in fruit, there is no doubt that they represent the same taxon.

Taxonomy

Acacia leiophylla Benth., London J. Bot. 1:351 (1842). Lectoiypc: 'King George’s Sound,
New Holland. Bagster’’- this is how the lectotype is annotated but it is incorrect, see dis-
cussion above (K lower left hand specimen on sheet, in flower: iso: K. PLRTH fragment),
lecto. now (Figure 1).

Acacia retinodes Schlechlendal var. oraria J. M. Black e\ C. M. Eardley in J. M. Black, Flor.
S. Austral., ed.2 4:945 ( 1957), synon. now Type: Sleaford Mere, near Port Lincoln, Southern
Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, 19 Nov. 1949, E. C. Black s.n. (holo: AD9570I001).

Shrub 1-2-5 m tall, either dense, compact and single-stemmed, or spreading
and openly branched with a number of stems arising from near ground level;
branchlets terete but slightly angular towards apex, flexuose. finely ribbed,
glabrous, reddish. Phyllodes lanceolate, (75) 100 130 ( 165) mm long, (9) 15-22
(25) mm wide (at broadest point - which is generally above the middle of phyl-
lode), falcate, glabrous, pale green, midrib obvious, lateral veins rather obscure;
pulvinus (5) 9-12 (15) mm long, often slightly twisted, prominently wrinkled.
Gland not very prominent, situated on upper margin of phyllode either at distal
end of pulvinus or to 4-8 ( 15) mm above it. Inflorescences racemose (or some-
times paniculate at ends of branchlets due to phyllode reduction), numerous;
raceme axis normally slightly flexuose. glabrous; peduncles 7-15 (21 ) per raceme,
ca. 4 mm long, longitudinally wrinkled (when dry), glabrous; flower heads
globular, with (24) 26-28 (31 ) flowers. Bracteoles peltate, conspicuous in inflor-
escence bud; laminae ca. I mm diarn., medium to light brown, densely ciliolate
(hairs golden). Flowers 5-merous; calyx \ f length of corolla, divided for I /6-
I 4 its length into broadly triangular inflexed keeled puberulous lobes (hairs
white and golden), tube a little angular brown and glabrous; petals ca. 2 mm
long, yellow, sparsely strigose, obscurely nerved. Legumes narrowly oblong,
90-125 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, straight, firmly chartaceous, raised over
seeds, glabrous, dark brown: margins slightly thickened, barely contracted
between seeds, light brown. Seeds longitudinal (or slightly oblique) in legume,
obloid, ca. 5 mmlong and 2-5 mm wide; funicle long and -|- encircling seed in a
double fold, dark coloured, gradually expanded into a pale yellowish curved aril.

Distribution: (Figure 2) South Australia from the vinicity of Coffin Bay (south-
ern Eyre Peninsula) southeast through southern Yorke Pensinula, Kangaroo
Island and The Coorong to near Mount Gambier. Although we have not seen
any specimens from Victoria, it is most likely that future sampling of near-
coastal regions around the border with South Australia will extend the range of
A. leiophylla into Victoria.

Habitat: Occurs on calcareous sand or shallow, porous, red loam in coastal
Mallee or Mallee-Heath vegetation. Acacia leiophylla is often associated with
Eucalyptus diversifolia Bonpl., Acacia pvenantha Benth. and A. longifolia var.
sopliorae ( Labi 11 . ) F. Muell.

Flowering period: August to November.

Fruiting period: November to January.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Hundred of Kiana, Flinders Highway, south of Lake Hamilton,
C R Alcock 2692 (AD); Innes National Park (35 I5'S, 136 55'E), C. R. Atcock 4569 (AD);
Wooley’s Lake, Beach port, 2 Dec. 1917, Herb. ./. M. Black s.n. (AD); Kangaroo Island,

163

from C. R. Alcock 2692; F, G from E. C. Black s.n. (Type of var. oraria).

164

Muston (ca. 5 km S of American River), 11 Dec. 1964, H. M. Cooper s.n. (AD); Southern
/ atnv , enmsu ' a ' between west coast and Corny Point Stenhouse Bay road. Hi. Eich/er 13934
rv o Kangaioo s * an ^» Jackson 288 (AD): Hundred of lilev Section 19, ca. 6 km S of
Big Swamp (which is ca. 15 km ESP of Port Lincoln), D. ./. E. Whibley 1857 (AD); 35 km S of
Stenhouse Bay. D.J. E. Whibley 5524 (AD); Vounghusband Peninsula, near mouth of Murray
Ri\er (35 37 S. 139 2 E), L. D. Williams 5108 (AD); about 11-3 km due S of Meningie town-
ship <35 47-5 S, 139 19 5'E). I. D. Williams 5615 (AD).

Because this taxon is rather distinctive morphologically and because it is so
widely distributed, we consider it best be treated as a distinct species, for which
the correct name is A. leiophylla Benth.. rather than as a variety of A. retinodes
Schlechtendal as Eardley has done. Taxonomically A. leiophylla lies between
A. retinodes and .4. pycnantha Benth. but has stronger affinities with the former
species. All three species are referable to Bentham's Uninerves- Racemosae
(Bentham. 1864).

The large, falcate, 1 -nerved phyllodes, long racemose inflorescences, and
narrowly oblong, glabrous, firmly chartaceous legumes with longitudinally
placed seeds relate A. pycnantha to A. leiophylla. Indeed, as pointed out above,
the fruiting syntype of the latter species is in fact A. pycnantha. Acacia pyc-
nantha is distinguished from A. leiophylla by the following characters; flowers
more numerous in the heads (50—80) ; petals glabrous; bracteole laminae
smaller and densely white-ciliolate; funicles shorter, straighter and not en-
circling seeds; phyllodes darker green and tending to show more conspicuous

165

59156 — 13 )

lateral veins. The 1 -nerved phyllodes, racemose inflorescences and the general
legume characters (especially the long funicles encircling the seeds in a double
fold) of A. ret inodes relate this species to A. leiophylla. Acuna ret modes is
distinguished from A. leiophylla by the following characters: pulvini shorter
(2-4 mm); bracteole laminae smaller, less conspicuous in the buds and bearing
-j- longer, white to very pale yellow marginal hairs; petals glabrous; flower
heads somewhat smaller in diameter (however, the number of flowers may
reach 50 per head, thus exceeding those on A. leiophylla ); phyllodes stiaighter
and less coriaceous; branchlet apices with a tendency to be more acutely
angular.

Acknowledgements

We wish to express our appreciation for the assistance given by the Director,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for the loan ot the type of A. leiophylla. The
first author also wishes to thank the Australian Biological Resources Study
Interim Council for providing the funds for travel to Kew where preliminary
work concerning this study was commenced.

References

Bentham, G. (1864) — Flora Australiensis, vol. 2. Reeve, London.

Bentham, G. (1875) — Revision of the Suborder Mimoseae. Trans. Linn. Soc.
London 30: 335-664.

Maiden, J. H. (1906)— Wattles and Wattle-Barks, ed. 3. Govt. Printer, Sydney.
Maiden, J. H. (1909) — Records of Western Australian Botanists. J. W.A. Nat.
Hist. Soc. 2 (6): 5-33.

Maslin, B. R. (1974) — Studies in the genus Acacia — 3. The taxonomy of
A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. Nuytsia 1 (4): 332-340.

Publication date of Volume 2 Number 2

The publication date of Volume 2 Number 2 was 25 May 1976.

59156/8/76—1 M

WILLIAM C. BROWN, Government Printer, Western Australia

Notes for authors

Nuytsia publishes papers relating to the flora of Western Australia. All papers
are refereed outside the Western Australian Herbarium. The Herbarium
reserves the right to reject papers.

Manuscripts must be submitted in duplicate. They should be typewritten,
double spaced, with 2-5 cm margins and no underlining. Pages should be
numbered. The desired position of text figures may be pencilled in the margin.
An abstract should be provided. For style and layout, recent numbers of
Nuytsia should be followed. Galley proofs will be forwarded to authors for
checking. Reprints may be ordered at the author’s expense.

CONTENTS

Page

Taxonomic Revisions in the family Haloragaceae n. Further notes on

Haloragis, Haloragodendron and Gonocarpus. By A. E. Orchard 126

Studies in the genus Acacia (Mimosaceae) — G. Miscellany. By B. R.

Maslin 145

The identity of Acacia leiophylla Benth. (Mimosaceae). By B. R. Maslin

and D. J. E. Whibley 162