Kodela, Acacia atrox (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) 
419 
of A. atrox. However, the impact of fire on A. atrox is unknown and might have the 
opposite effect. The situation calls for a monitoring program and studies aimed to 
assist the landholder and authorities maintain a balance between productive farming 
and conservation of this endangered species. 
Further field surveys in the region should be carried out to determine if there are other 
populations of A. atrox and possible threats to the species. More information is 
required on its biology and ecology, including reproduction strategies and life cycles. 
This could be assisted by propagation ex situ, which may also be necessary to help 
protect the species. Specimens with pods remain to be found and would provide 
further insights on the species biology and possible related species. Furthermore, 
flavonoid studies on the wood may provide results that help suggest relationships. 
There is also the possibility for phylogenetic and population genetic studies, as well as 
entomological studies on the galls. The known population of A. atrox and its habitat 
should be managed to help protect this very rare and possibly ancient or relic species. 
Acknowledgments 
Thankyou to Mr Fred Millar, Myall Creek Station, for bringing attention to this new 
rare species and for his observations, as well as for allowing access and field studies 
on his property. I am very grateful to Wendy Hawes, Paul O'Keefe and James Kewley 
of the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Inverell, for their specimen 
collections and report. Many of the details in this paper are based on findings from 
their thorough site inspection. Comments on A. atrox and/or the manuscript were 
provided by Terry Tame (Hunter Region Botanic Gardens & NSW), Bruce Maslin 
(PERTH), NSW Agriculture, Mr K. Stevens, Wayne Pollock and Doug Benson (NSW). 
John Benson (NSW) assisted with liaising with collectors and government 
departments. Dr Peter Wilson (NSW) kindly provided the Latin description. Lesley 
Elkan (NSW) is gratefully acknowledged for drawing the illustration. 
References 
Briggs, J.D. & Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or threatened Australian plants, 1995 revised edition. 
(CSIRO: Collingwood). 
Hawes, W., O'Keefe, P. & Kewley, J. (2000) Acacia sp. ‘Myall Creek' (Millar s.n. 25 May 2000): site 
inspection and sample collection. (Department of Land and Water Conservation: Inverell). 
Unpublished report. 
Manuscript received 6 December 2000 
Manuscript accepted 4 April 2001 
