Acacia pycnantha Benth.
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Authority
Isley, Duane. 1973. Leguminosae of the United States: I. Subfamily. Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (1): 1-152.
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Family
Mimosaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Small, glabrous, unarmed tree. Leaves simple, oblanceolate-falcate, mostly curving 60°-180°, (5-) 8-15 (-20) cm long, to asymmetrically spatulate, .8-2.5 (-4) cm wide, uninerved with secondary venation, coriaceous, usually with an evident, proximal or basal gland, rarely several glands. Flowers in large 35-plus flowered, yellow heads 6-10 mm diam in small or elongate, narrow, axillary racemes and (or) terminal compound racemes; rachis and peduncles stout, the latter 2-5 mm, shorter than diam of heads. Legume narrowly oblong, laterally compressed but turgid, straight to curved, 6-10 cm long, 5-7 mm wide; margins straight to sinuate; valves coriaceous, black, impressed between seeds. Funiculus short, not encircling seed, plicate or not, clavate into a fleshy aril.
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Discussion
Acacia pycnantha is listed by Mathias and McClintock (1963), but it is no longer commercially available according to the LASCA (1970) index. Although most specimens seen are rather old, I have collected the species several times in the ’60’s. Acacia pycnantha is confused in the U.S. with several related and not so closely related species. As to material seen, I distinguish them as follows: 1. Heads mostly 6-10 mm diam, with 35 or more flowers, on stout peduncles (2-5 mm) shorter than diam of expanded heads (some exceptions) ; leaves usually strongly falcate (often to 90° or more) to only slightly curved or asymmetric. Acacia pycnantha Benth. 1. Heads 3-6 mm diam, usually with 20 or fewer flowers, on peduncles which are either slender or longer than above, approximating or mostly longer than diam of heads. 2. Gland within 5 mm of base of blade, obscure or evident; legume 5-6 mm wide. 3. Leaves gradually tapering to base, usually nearly straight, the midnerve medial; gland usually evident, 2-5 mm from base. A. retinodes Schlecht. 3. Leaves abruptly narrowed at base, lanceolate-falcate, the midnerve displaced; gland basal, obscure or absent. A. falcata Willd. 2. Gland 5-15 mm above base of blade, at apex of pseudopetiole or on narrow portion, sometimes in a slight notch, or with a short connecting nerve, conspicuous; legume 1-2.5 cm wide. 4. Legumes 1-1.4 cm wide; peduncles glabrous. A. penninervis Sieb. ex DC. 4. Legumes 1.7-2.5(-3) cm wide; peduncles puberulent, often with golden hairs. A. falciformis DC.
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Distribution
Urban California. Cultivated ornamental. Feb-March(May). Golden wattle. Native of Australia.
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