Acacia coatesii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Coates cushion wattle | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. coatesii |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia coatesii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Acacia sp. Londonderry (N.Gibson 6433) WA Herbarium | |
Acacia coatesii, commonly known as Coates cushion wattle,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to a small area in inland Western Australia. It is a low-domed, intricately branched, compact, rigid shrub with lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic or oblong phyllodes, spherical heads of bright golden yellow flowers, and oblong pods.
Acacia coatesii is a low-domed, intricately branched, compact, rigid shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) and forms hemispherical cushions. Its phyllodes are usually straight, lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic or oblong, 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long and 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) wide with a prominent vein. The flowers are borne in spherical heads on a peduncle 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, each head 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) in diameter with 8 or 9 bright golden yellow flowers. Flowering occurs in September and October and the immature pods are oblong, 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide.[3][4][5]
Taxonomy
Acacia coatesii was first formally described in 2014 by Bruce Maslin from specimens collected south of Coolgardie in 2012.[3][6] The specific epithet (coatesii) honours "Dr David (Dave) Coates, senior principal research scientist with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, in recognition of his major contribution to science and the conservation of Western Australian flora".[4]
Distribution and habitat
Coates cushion wattle is known only from a single population south of Coolgardie, where it grows in red sandy clay on flat or gently sloping ground in open woodland over open shrubland.[4]