Acacia lineata

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Rosids  > Fagales > Fabaceae > Acacia  lineata

Other links:     

Plant information 

Common name:                Streaked Wattle 

•  Also, Narrow Lined-leaved Wattle

Conservation status:  ...

• Currently A. lineata is not considered rare or endangered

Etymology:   

• Borrowed from Latin acacia, from Ancient Greek ἀκακία (akakía) "a thorny Egyptian tree", from ἀκή (akḗ) "point, thorn

• The word lineata from a Latin word meaning marked by fine parallel lines

Flowers:                  

• The inflorescence is a bright yellow ball 4-6mm in diameter

• It contains 10-16 flowers on a slim stalk 2.5-10mm long (singly or in pairs)

• It grows out from the base of the phyllodes

• Flowers appear from July to October depending on the region

Fruit:                         

• The seed pod or legumes are curved and can be flat or twisted, 2–6 cm long and 2-4mm wide

• They turn from green to a dark brown when mature and papery in texture

• They are slightly hairy and sticky

• Seeds are greyish/black, 3 to 5mm long, oblong shaped and spaced length-ways within the legume; with flattened sections separated each seed from another

• The seeds mature over summer

• The seed-terminal is short, folded and widens into a pale aril

• The pale aril of the A. lineata seeds, suggests dispersal by ants

Leaves:         

• As is common in many Acacias, the leaves of A. lineata are not true leaves, but a modified leaf stem known as a phyllode

• The phyllodes of A. lineata are dark green, sparsely to densely hairy, often sticky, slightly clustered, tough and erect; ending in a small point 0.7-2.5 cm long to 1-3mm wide

• Margins are thick, there is a visible vein running lengthwise and a small gland near the base

Stem & branches: 

• Branchlets are round, hairy and resinous.

Roots:         

Habit:        

• A bushy, low spreading shrub 0.5-2m high and 1-2.5m wide

• It is a perennial

Habitat:   

• It grows in a variety of habitats such as sclerophyll forest and woodland, but mostly occurs in mallee communities

Distribution:                  

• Occurs naturally inland eastern Australia

• It occurs in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Victoria where it is considered as uncommon

• It has a sporadic distribution

• It occurs in central to western NSW

• It has been noted to grow around the Killara Road area of the Narrandera Rangers, and throughout the mallee areas north-east of Barellan

• It also known to occur in south-east Queensland, north-west Mallee areas of Victoria and can be seen in south-east South Australia; with known locations including the Yorke Peninsula region and Murray region

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • A. lineata belongs to the Family Fabaceae also called the legume or pea family, in the Clade Mimosoidae

  • The following species are considered conspecific with A. lineata; A. imbricata, A. flexifolia, A. runciformis and A. dasyphylla

• Ecology

  • A. lineata can grow in alkaline, sandy, or gravely soils

  • Having phyllodes instead of leaves help A. lineate to survive in dry semi-arid environments, by reducing water loss

  • The phyllodes of A. lineatea are small, point up and are slightly hairy; adaptations that further reduce water loss

  • Acacias are able to fix nitrogen in the soil via a host bacteria that live on the roots called rhizobia, which aids in the growth of other plant species

• Cultivation and uses

  • A. lineata is planted as an ornamental shrub in parks and along roadsides

  • It prefers temperate regions, is moderately drought and frost tolerant, and will grow from a seed or cutting

  • Acacias are a good source of pollen; sheltered nesting habitat for birds and seeds which are eaten by birds

  • Indigenous Australians use many species of Acacia for a diverse range of purposes

  • Seeds and roots are a good source of food

  • Wood is used for fire, tools, shelters etc. Acacias provide habitat which attracts other foods (birds, kangaroos) and they are also used as a seasonal indicator

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_lineata (2023)