Acacia hemiteles

Benth.

Tan wattle

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds 27 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Acacia hemiteles, commonly known as tan wattle, is a shrub in the family Fabaceae. It is widely distributed throughout south central Western Australia. It was formerly thought to be endemic to Western Australia, but has recently been collected near Maralinga in South Australia. Tan wattle is a good coloniser of disturbed or burnt ground, and is therefore often seen in mining areas. Tan wattle grows to a height of about three metres. It is bushy, and is often broader than it is high. Like most Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. These are a grey-green colour, around seven centimetres long and 4 millimetres wide. The flowers are yellow, and held in small spherical clusters that arise in the leaf axils. The pods are brown, about ten centimetres long and one centimetre wide.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.