Common name: flat-stemmed wattle, long pod wattle
Acacia complanata A.Cunn. ex Benth. APNI* Synonyms: Racosperma complanatum (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) Pedley APNI*
Description: Erect or spreading shrub 2–5 m high; branchlets ± flattened or winged, ± zigzagged, glabrous.
Phyllodes elliptic to narrowly elliptic, ± straight, 5–10 cm long, 10–30 mm wide, glabrous, with 5–9 prominent longitudinal veins and openly reticulate minor veins between, apex ± obtuse; 1 gland near base; pulvinus 2–3 mm long.
Inflorescences 4–8 in axil of phyllodes or on an axillary axis 1–10 mm long; peduncles 8–12 mm long, glabrous; heads globose, 35–45-flowered, 6–9 mm diam., bright yellow.
Pods ± straight or twisted, rounded over seeds alternately on each side and slightly to moderately constricted between them, 8–15 cm long, 6–10 mm wide, thinly leathery, finely ± wrinkled reticulately over seeds, glabrous; seeds longitudinal or sometimes oblique; funicle expanded towards seed.
Flowering: November–March.
Distribution and occurrence: chiefly north from Coffs Harbour district, also a disjunct population in the Torrington district. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath, in sandy and gravelly soil.
NSW subdivisions: NC, NWS
Other Australian states: Qld
The name refers to the flattened nature of the branchlets. A distinctive species not likely to be confused with other acacias in New South Wales.
Text by P.G. Kodela
Taxon concept: P.G. Kodela & G.J. Harden, Flora of NSW Vol. 2 (2002)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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