Acacia myrtifolia

Acacia myrtifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. myrtifolia
Binomial name
Acacia myrtifolia (Sm.) Willd.

Acacia myrtifolia, known colloquially as myrtle wattle or red-stemmed wattle, is a species of Acacia native to Australia. Its specific epithet 'myrtle-leaved' is derived from the Latin myrtus 'myrtle', and folium 'leaf'. It is a small shrub 0.3–3 m (0.98–9.84 ft) in height, and 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) spread. It has distinctive red branches and lanceolate green phyllodes, 2–9 cm (1-3½ in) in length and 0.5–3 cm wide. Its flowers are creamy white or pale yellow and appear in winter and spring.^[1] These are followed by 4–7 cm (1.5–3 in) long curved seed pods.^[2]

It was one of the earliest plants described in the colony, having been illustrated by James Sowerby.

print by James Sowerby

References

1. Harden GJ (1990). "Acacia myrtifolia (Sm.) Willd.". Plantnet - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
2. Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1985). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 2. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian Press. p. 88. ISBN 0-85091-143-5.