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Nuytsia Vol. 7, No. 2 (1990) 
Frutices glabri ad 2(3) m alti, apicibus vegetativis novis resinosis et leviter viscidis. Phyllodia 
teretia, 2-4 cm longa, 1 mm diametro, incurvata vel solum ad basem incurvata et abler recta, saepe 
truncata vel obliquo-truncata, excentrice mucronulata, inclinata ad ascenderts, viridia, 4-nervata, 
nervis brunneolis, leviter impressis viscidisque, exsudata saepe cristam angustam translucidam 
formanti; glande juxta mucronem. Pedunculi 5-14 mm longi, plerumque 1 vel 2 in racemis 
axillaribus vel terminalibus ad 5(10) mm longis dispositis; capitula globularia, dense 20-25-floribus, 
aurea, resinosa. Flores pentamcri, sepalis ad basem connatis. Legutnina (submatura) 
angusto-oblonga, ad 7 cm longa, 5 mm lata, plana, leviter undulata, resinosa. Semina (submatura) 
longitudinalia, oblongo-elliptica, arillo clavato. 
Typus: Chiddarcooping Nature Reserve, Western Australia, 23 July 1989, B.R. Maslin 6382 (holo: 
PERTH; iso: AD, B, BM, BRI, CANB, G, K, MEL, MO, NSW, NY, PERTH, Z). 
Moderately dense, ± obconic shrubs to 1.5-2 m tall, sometimes 3 m, single-stemmed or 
several-branchcd at ground level. Bark mid-grey, smooth except furrowed at base of old stems. 
New shoots resinous, slightly viscid, pale green or light bronze. Branchlets terete, obscurely ribbed, 
glabrous, resinous and brown at extremities. Stipules semi-persistent, narrowly triangular, 
inconspicuous, c. 0.5 mm long, 0.1-0.2 mm wide, dark brown. Phyllodes ± terete, (1)2-4 cm long, a 
few to 6 cm long, c. 1 mm wide, inclined to ascending, erect when young, incurved or + straight but 
incurved at base, occasionally ± sigmoid, glabrous, green, stomata numerous (observe at xlO mag.); 
4-nerved, nerves brownish and slightly impressed, resinous, the exudate commonly forming a 
narrow translucent ridge; apices often uncinate to subuncinate, excentricallly mucronulatc, often 
obliquely truncate; pulvinus obscure, < 0.5 mm long, ± smooth, yellow to pale orange. Gland 
situated on upper margin of phyllode adjacent to the mucro, circular, 0.3-0.4 mm diameter, base 
eglandulose. Inflorescences situated at ends of branchlets, comprising short terminal and/or axillary 
racemes or axillary peduncles. Terminal racemes growing out at anthesis, the peduncles subtended 
abaxially by a terete, acute prophyll which is c. 1 mm long and Banked by a pair of stipules. 
Axillary racemes to 5(10) mm long, 1- or 2-hcadcd, terminated by a vegetative bud which 
occasionally grows out during anthesis, base of raceme axis ebracteatc, the peduncles subtended 
abaxially by a minute persistent, triangular, brown bract c. 0.5 mm long or with prophyll and 
stipules as on terminal racemes. Peduncles 5-14 mm long, glabrous; basal peduncular bracts 
absent (w'hen inflorescences are non-racemose) or solitary (on axillary racemes) or replaced by a 
prophyll (on terminal and axillary racemes). Flower-heads globular, 12 mm diam. (fresh), 6 mm 
diam (dry), golden, resinous, densely 20-25-flowcrcd. Bracleoles ± spathulatc, 1 mm long, 
glabrous. Flowers 5-merous. Sepals united at base, narrowdy oblong to broadly spathulate, claws 
translucent, laminae yellow, + concave and slightly thickened abaxially. Petals 1.7 mm long, 
glabrous, very obscurely nerved. Legumes (slightly immature) narrowly oblong, to 7 cm long, 5 
mm wide, straight, flat, slightly undulate, not reticulate, resinous, glabrous. Seeds (slightly 
immature) longitudinal in the legume, oblong-elliptic; areole open towards hilum;/uwc/e 12 mm 
long, expanded into a clavate aril. 
Other specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Chiddarcooping Nature Reserve, 
S.D. Hopper 6405, 6407, 6408-6412, 6414 (all PERTH) and A.S. Weston 14029 (BM, G, NT, 
PERTH), 14103 (AD, BRI, CANB, K, MEL, NSW, PERTH), 14170 (PERTH), 14263 (PERTH, 
MO, NY), 14263 A (PERTH), 14546 (PERTH). 
Distribution. South-west Western Australia in the Avon Botanical District (1:250,000 map 
H50-12). Known only from the Chiddarcooping Nature Reserve, about 70 km NE of Merredin. 
Habitat. Scree slopes of granitic breakaways in woodland or low scrub. 
Flowering and fruiting. Flowers June — September. Legumes with slightly immature seeds occur in 
early November. 
Affinities. On account of its short, terete, 4-nerved phyllodes with an apical gland and its overall 
inflorescence characters, A. ascendens is most closely related to the widespread southern Arid Zone 
