Acacia myrtifolia | |
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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. These are followed by 4–7 cm (1.5–3 in) long curved seed pods.
It was one of the earliest plants described in the colony, having been illustrated by James Sowerby.