Acacia cochlocarpa subsp. velutinosa
Contents
General Plant Info
"Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle"
The Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle is superficially similar to Acacia lirellata subsp. compressa, in having flat, curved, strongly multinerved phyllodes, sessile, subglobular to shortly obloid heads and acute to acuminate, dark-coloured bracteoles. However, A.l. subsp. compressa is distinguished by its long narrow non-coiled, glabrous pods, glabrous branchlets and glabrous, narrow phyllodes (Maslin 2001; Maslin & Chapman 1999)
The Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle is a spreading shrub growing to 70 cm high and up to 3 metres across. The bark is smooth or slightly stringy, and reddish-grey. Branches are more or less straight, ribbed and pubescent. Phyllodes are erect, green, 2.5 to 4 cms long and 3 to 5 mm wide, flat and shallowly to strongly curved, with three to seven unequal nerves, usually hairy on nerves. Inflorescences are paired in axil of phyllode. The wattle flower-heads are bright golden, sub-globular, axillary and 5 to 7 mm long when dry. Pods are tightly coiled, smooth, brown, velvety, impressed around seeds, with broad yellow glabrous margins. Seeds are longitudinal in pod, up to 2.5 mm long and wide, glossy grey with brown speckling with a cream aril. This subspecies is named for its velvety branchlets, nerves and pods (CALM 2005; Maslin & Chapman 1999; Mollemans et al. 1993; Stack et al. 2003).
The total population size for the Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle is approximately 85+ mature individuals (CALM 2005).
It is listed as rare in Western Australia under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and is managed as ‘critically endangered’ (according to IUCN criteria) by the Western Australian Government.
Geographic distribution
The Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle is endemic to Western Australia. This species is currently known from three natural populations and two translocated populations near Watheroo approximately 200 km north of Perth. The three natural populations occurring across a restricted range from 2.5 km north-west of Watheroo to 9 km north-north-west of Watheroo. The two translocated populations are within a Nature Reserve approximately 12 km north of Watheroo. All populations occur within the Northern Agricultural NRM region (CALM 2005). The Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle is restricted to three known populations located less than 5 km apart with an extent of occurrence of less than 5 km². There have only been several collections of this species since 1974, all from a very small geographic area near Manmanning (WA Herbarium 2005). There is little data to indicate a decline in the extent of occurrence of this very restricted species since its discovery. However, previous agricultural clearing may have resulted in the removal of habitat prior to its discovery (CALM 2005). The original extent of occurrence of this species is unknown although it is thought to be naturally restricted to a specific soil type of limited distribution (CALM 2005). The species has a total area of occupancy of approximately 1.2 km². There is little data to indicate a past or future decline in area of occupancy of this very restricted species (CALM 2005). The three known populations of the Velvety Spiral Pod Wattle occur in a very fragmented area. Much of the West Australian Wheatbelt has been cleared for agriculture (Shepherd et al. 2002) and the remaining populations occur in two small remnants on private property and an area of Unallocated Crown Land which is surrounded by cleared farm land (CALM 2005).
Beard’s Provinces: South-West Province.
IBRA Regions: Avon Wheatbelt.
IBRA Subregions: Avon Wheatbelt P1, Avon Wheatbelt P2.
Local Government Areas (LGAs): Cunderdin, Dowerin, Wongan-Ballidu.
Identification
Branchlets pubescent. Stipules persistent. Phyllodes 2.5- 4 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, with apices usually obtuse, 3–5 (–7)-nerved, usually hairy on nerves; central nerve slightly closer to adaxial margin. Flower-heads subglobular, 5- 7 mm long (dry); bracteoles ovate, 1.2–1.8 mm long, acute to acuminate. Pods velvety. Restricted to near Manmanning with an early collection near York, W.A. Grows in sandy clay or laterite, in heath and scrub. Superficially resembling A. lirellata subsp. compressa in having flat, curved, strongly multinerved phyllodes, sessile, subglobular to shortly obloid heads and acute to acuminate, dark-coloured bracteoles. Subspecies compressa is distinguished by its non-coiled, glabrous pods, glabrous branchlets and glabrous, narrow phyllodes.
Alkaloid content
Extraction
Other uses
Cultivation
Suppliers
Links
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=65112
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/14063
http://www.worldwidewattle.com/speciesgallery/cochlocarpa.php
