R.S. Cowan & B.R. Maslin, Acacia Miscellany -- 1 
197 
Affinities. A. spongolitica is superficially very similar to several species in the A. ixiophylla 
complex but it is instantly separable by its ictramerous flowers, compressed branchlets, and 
connate, glandular-ciliolatc sepals; it is perhaps most closely related to A . lanei and A. ixiophylla. 
Conservation status. Not considered either rare or endangered. 
Etymology. The specific epithet, proposed by the collector of the type material, refers to the 
substrate common for the species, very often soil derived from spongolite, a sedimentary rock rich 
in sponge spicules. 
9. Acacia verricula Cowan & Maslin, sp. nov. (Figure 2, J-L) 
Frutex multicaulis 0.5-3 m altus, late coronalus, caulium prope basin cortice fissurata, supra 
laevi, ramulis rufis, resinosis, parce pubcrulis, pilis simplicibus, antrorse curvatis, saepe aureis. 
Stipulae persistentes, triangulares, minores quam 0.5 mm longac. Phyllodia complanata, 
lenticularia ad anguslc elliplica vel lincari-elliplica, obtusa ad acuta, aliquando brevi-mucronulato, 
pulvino minore quam 1 mm longo, lamina (1 1-)15-30(-38) mm longa, (2-)3-5(-6) mm lata, 
tenui-coriacea, leviter curvata, glabra vel ad marginem pilis antrorse curvatis, pall ido-viridi, 
resinosa, nervis secondariis in reticulo junctis, glande ( 1 -)2-6(- 12) mm supra pulvinum. 
Racemorum axis 1-6 mm longus, plcrumque bicapilulatus, puberulus, saepe resinosus, aliquando 
nullus, bracteis basalibus ovatis, persistcnlibus, glabris. Pedunculi (2-)3-6(-8) mm longi, puberuli, 
pilis praecipue antrorse declinatis. Capitula globularia, aurea, (3-)4-5 mm diametro, 25-35-floribus. 
Flores 5meri. Sepala petala plus quam dimidia longiora, discreta, linearia. Petala anguste elliptica, 
plus minusve discreta, glabra. Ovarium glabrum vel subglabrum. Legumen lineare, arcuatum, 
eomplanatum, 2.5-5 cm longum, 2-4 mm latum, saepe undulalum, glabrum vel subglabrum, valde 
nitido-resinosum. Semina longitudinalia, elliptica, 3-3.5 mm longa, 2 mm lata, nitido-brunnea, 
pleurogramma dislincta, elongata, arillo apicali vel subapicali. 
Typus: about halfway between Peak Charles and Peak Eleanora, Western Australia, 14 Aug. 1985, 
B.R. Maslin 5796 (holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K, MEL, NSW). 
? A. glutinosa F. Muell. (pro parte); nom. ambiguum. Sec Discussion below. 
[A. ixiophylla auct., non Benth. (1842); W.E. Blackall & B.J. Grieve, How to Know Western 
Austral. Wildfl. 1: 194 (1954)] 
Multiple-stemmed, spreading shrubs 0.5-3 m tall with crown 1-6 m diam., rarely a spindly 2 m 
tree. Bark grey, finely fissured at base of stems, smooth above. Branchlets reddish, resinous, 
sparingly puberulous with simple, antrorsely curved, often golden, hairs. Stipules persistent, 
triangular, less than 0.5 mm long. Phyllodes Oat, lenticular to narrow- or linear-elliptic, somewhat 
inequilateral, obtuse to acute, mucro (when present) centric or excentric, very short, pulvinus less 
than 1 mm long, blades (1 1-)15-30(-38) mm long, (2-)3-5(-6) mm wide, thin-coriaceous, slightly 
curved, glabrous or with few antrorsely curved hairs marginally, pale green, resinous; main nerves 
and secondary nerves scarcely distinguishable from one another, anastomoses usually impressed 
and forming a fine, regular-meshed reticulum. Gland situated on the upper margin of phyllode 
(l-)2-6(-12) mm above pulvinus. Raceme axes 1-6 mm long, usually 2-hcadcd, puberulous, often 
resinous, sometimes absent; basal peduncular bracts ovale, persistent, glabrous. Peduncles 
(2-)3-6(-8) mm long, puberulous, hairs mainly antrorsely declinate and golden. Flower-heads 
globular, golden, (3-)4-5 mm diam., 25-35-llowcrcd. Flowers 5-merous. Sepals more than half as 
long as petals, free, linear. Petals narrowly elliptic, all free or some partly connate, glabrous. 
Ovary glabrous or with few papillae-like micro-hairs apically. Legumes linear, 2.5-5 cm long, 2-4 
mm wide, mostly undulate, sometimes only arcuate, not constricted between seeds, glabrous or few 
marginal antrorsely curved micro-hairs, markedly nitid-resinous, especially when young. Seeds 
longitudinal, elliptic, 3-3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, glossy brown; pleurogram distinct, elongate, 
narrowly U-shaped, c. 1.2- 1.8 mm long; aril apical to subapical. 
