Notes on types of some Acacia species (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) at the National Herbarium of New South Wales (NSW)

Abstract

The typification of eight species of Acacia is discussed, and lectotypes are here selected for six of these species: Acacia adsurgens, A. ancistrocarpa, A. cambagei, A. caroleae, A. rhodoxylon and A. shirleyi. The previously designated neotype of A. cambagei is now unnecessary.

Chance long-distance or human-mediated dispersal? HowAcacia s.l. farnesianaattained its pan-tropical distribution

“…There are no historical records for the introduction of A. farnesiana to Australia. Some of the earliest botanical explorations of northern Australia [62,63] note the species as being widespread at that time in some areas, which suggests its arrival prior to British settlement [64][65][66]. Hence, several Australian sources treat the plant as indigenous (e.g.…”

Acacia pendula (Weeping Myall) in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales: early explorers’ journals, database records and habitat assessments raise doubts over naturally occurring populations.

“…Acacia pendula (family Fabaceae) is well known from inland New South Wales and Queensland, where it occurs on major river floodplains on heavy clay soils (Stanley & Ross 1995;Kodela & Harden 2002), in Victoria from a few small, degraded stands (Venn 2004), and the extreme eastern part of South Australia (Cowan 2001). The upper Hunter Valley of NSW is reportedly the eastern distributional limit for the species (Kodela & Harden 2002), although in recent years it has become unclear how far east the species actually extends into this region.…”

“…The upper Hunter Valley of NSW is reportedly the eastern distributional limit for the species (Kodela & Harden 2002), although in recent years it has become unclear how far east the species actually extends into this region. Taxonomically, the Acacia pendulamelvillei-homalophylla species group is complex and has not yet been satisfactorily resolved.…”

“…This uncertainty is due to the uncharacteristic appearance of many of the trees in this region (the non-pendulous forms), and the lack of fertile fruit production needed to positively identify the species. For conclusive separation between Acacia pendula and its close relatives (Acacia melvillei, Acacia homolophylla), seed arrangement within fertile pods together with floral characters are necessary (Cowan 2001;Kodela & Harden 2002). In the Hunter Valley, pod development progressing to mature seed has only been observed for the pendulous forms of Acacia pendula, while non-pendulous forms have never achieved this state (Bell 2007).…”