''Acacia cyperophylla'', commonly known as creekline miniritchie or red mulga, is a

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Fabaceae Fabaceae () or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomen ...

. The species' range extends across arid and semi-arid regions of Central Australia, from Carnarvon in

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

through the Northern Territory and northern South Australia to western Queensland. It is commonly found growing in areas of slightly higher soil moisture such as in drainage lines and on the banks of

river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

s and creeks. Red Mulga

Description

Creekline miniritchie grows to a height of about seven metres. It usually has just one or two main trunks. Like most ''

Acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as wattles or acacias, is a genus of about of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America, and Austral ...

'' species, it has

phyllode Phyllodes are modified petiole (botany), petioles or leaf stems, which are leaf-like in appearance and function. In some plants, these become flattened and widened, while the leaf itself becomes reduced or vanishes altogether. Thus the phyllode co ...

s rather than true leaves. These are rigid, round in cross-section with a diameter of about two millimetres, between ten and fifteen centimetres long, and curved. The flowers are yellow, and held in cylindrical clusters about two centimetres long. The pods are broad and flat, about eight centimetres long and seven millimetres wide. Creekline miniritchie is most readily identified by its distinctive "

minni ritchi Minni ritchi bark on an acacia in the Pilbara region of Western Australia Minni ritchi bark of ''Eucalyptus crucis'' near Wongan Hills Minni ritchi is a type of reddish-brown bark that continuously peels in small curly flakes, leaving the tr ...

" bark, which constantly peels off in small curling flakes, making the tree look like it has a coat of curly hair. On creekline miniritchie, this is an orange-brown colour.

Varieties

There are two varieties, ''A. c.'' var. ''cyperophylla'' and ''A. c.'' var. ''omearana''. The latter variety is known from only a few populations near

Port Hedland A port is a maritime law, maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge Affreightment, cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inla ...

, all of which are under threat. ''A. cyperophylla'' var. ''omearana'' has been classified "Priority 1" under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act, and is under consideration for declaration as "rare flora".

References

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q4670918 cyperophylla Fabales of Australia Acacias of Western Australia Flora of Queensland Flora of New South Wales Flora of the Northern Territory Flora of South Australia Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller Plants described in 1864

Description

Varieties

See also

References