Acacia intorta is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to inland areas in the north of Western Australia. It is a gnarled shrub or tree with fibrous, fissured grey bark, erect, rigid, sharply pointed phyllodes, spikes of golden yellow flowers and firmly leathery pods.
| Acacia intorta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. intorta |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia intorta | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Racosperma intortum (Maslin) Pedley | |
Description
editAcacia intorta is a gnarled shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft), with its main branches twited and usually spreading horizontally. Its branchlets are glabrous and the phyllodes are erect, straight, usually terete or subterete, usually 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) long and 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) wide, rigid and sharply pointed. The flowers are golden yellow and loosely arranged in spikes 10–35 mm (0.39–1.38 in) long on a peduncle mostly 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to mid-June and the pods are narrowly oblong, 40–90 mm (1.6–3.5 in) long, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) wide, firmly leathery, raised over, but not, or only slightly constricted between the seeds. The seeds are elliptic to oblong, 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long and dark brown with a small aril.[2][3][4][5][6]
Taxonomy
editAcacia intorta was first formally described in 1983 by Bruce Maslin in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected 30 km (19 mi) north of Tangadee Homestead in 1976.[7] The specific epithet (intorta) means 'twisted' or 'turned around', referring to the branches.[8]
Distribution and habitat
editConservation status
editAcacia intorta is listed as 'not threatened' by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Acacia intorta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ Maslin, Bruce R. (1983). "Studies in the genus Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) - 14. New taxa from north-west Western Australia". Nuytsia. 4 (3): 398–402. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ Cowan, Richard S. "Acacia intorta". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ Maslin, Bruce R.; Cowan, Richard S. "Acacia intorta". Australian Biological Resources Study. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ "Acacia intorta". World Wide Wattle. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Acacia intorta". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ↑ "Acacia intorta". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 231. ISBN 9780645629538.