Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Acacia alata | Order Fabales Genus Acacia Rank Species | |
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Similar Acacia brachystachya, Acacia binervata, Acacia aspera, Acacia beckleri, Acacia acanthoclada | ||
Acacia alata (common name: winged wattle) is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia.
Acacia alata is a frost-hardy, large, multi-branched shrub, typically growing to a height of 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) and 1 m (3.3 ft) across, distributed throughout Western Australia. It grows in a variety of soils types in areas near streams, rocky hills, salt pans and clay flats. It's branchlets are often bent alternately in different directions.
The phyllodes (modified petioles) are reduced in size and give the impression of cladodes (branches that resemble leaves). The wings of these phyllodes are usually 2 to 20 millimetres (0.08 to 0.79 in) wide and 5 to 70 mm (0.20 to 2.76 in) long. Furthermore, each phyllode extends into a spine. Tolerate frosts to −7 °C (19 °F).
The inflorescence is simple with mostly two flowers per axil, but sometimes distributed in racemes. The globular heads contain 4 to 15 flowers. These flowers can be white, cream-coloured or golden yellow. The last flower form is preferred for cultivation.
Four varieties are recognized :