Acacia cuthbertsonii is a perennial shrub or tree native to arid parts of inland and northwestern Australia.[3]

Acacia cuthbertsonii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. cuthbertsonii
Binomial name
Acacia cuthbertsonii
Range of Acacia cuthbertsonii
Synonyms

Acacia cuthbertsoni Luehm.[2]

Description

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The shrub or tree typically grows to a height of 1 to 5 m (3 ft 3 in to 16 ft 5 in) and has a bushy and gnarled habit and has fissured, flaky bark. Like most species of Acacia it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. The silvery evergreen phyllodes have an elliptic to linear shape and can be straight to slightly incurved. The pungent, subrigid phyllodes have a length of 3 to 11 cm (1.2 to 4.3 in) and a width of 1 to 20 mm (0.04 to 0.79 in). When it blooms between January or April to December,[4] it produces simple inflorescences that are found in pairs in the axils. The flower-spikes are 10 to 34 mm (0.4 to 1.3 in) in length and have a diameter of 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) with golden flowers. The woody glabrous seed pods that form after flowering have a narrowly oblong to linear shape with a length of around 14 cm (5.5 in) and a width 11 to 22 mm (0.4 to 0.9 in) that dry to become yellowish and wrinkled. The dull, brown seeds within have a broadly elliptic to subcircular shape and are 7.5 to 9 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) in length.[5]

Distribution

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The species is found in drier areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is found in a variety of situations including on stony rises, gibber plains, and along creeks and drainage lines where it grows in stony sandy or loamy soils.[4]

Uses

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The plant is used as an analgesic,[6] in particular, for headaches and toothaches,[7] by Aboriginal Australians of the Northern Territory. The wood is used to make splints to treat bone fractures.[8] Certain parts of the tree are used to make bandages.[9]

Subspecies

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  • Acacia cuthbertsonii subsp. cuthbertsonii
  • Acacia cuthbertsonii subsp. linearis

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Acacia cuthbertsonii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146626777A146626779. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146626777A146626779.en. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  2. ^ "ILDIS". International Legume Database & Information Service. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Acacia cuthbertsonii Luehm". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Acacia cuthbertsonii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ "Acacia cuthbertsonii". World Wide Wattle. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  6. ^ Analgesic Plants Archived April 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Australian New Crops Newsletter
  7. ^ Sydney Exotic Plants Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ ABRS Flora of Australia Online
  9. ^ Peile, Anthony Rex (1997). Body and Soul: An Aboriginal View. Hesperian Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-85905-233-7.