Acacia shirleyi, known colloquially as lancewood,[2][3] is a species of Acacia native to Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia.[1] It grows as a tree to 15 metres (49 ft) high, with dark grey or black stringy bark and blue-grey foliage. The yellow flowers appear from March to July. It grows in dry scrub, open forest or mixed savannah woodland. Indigenous people used the wood as fuel and to make hunting spears. Cattle can eat the foliage as fodder.
The small tree has a single stem[4] which is layered with dead bark[5] and an umbrella shaped habit. It typically grows to a height of around 15 metres (49 ft). The stringy bark is dark grey to black in colour,[4] and the trunk can be up to 60 centimetres (24 in) thick.[6] When cut or exposed, the bark will emit an odour reminiscent of violets.[5] The evergreen linear to slightly curved phyllodes are around 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 in) in length and 0.2 to 0.7 cm (0.08 to 0.28 in) wide. Veins are only found in the midrib area and are raised on both surfaces of the blade.[5] The foliage has a blue-grey hue overall.[7]
It flowers between about March and July,[4] producing moderately dense flower-spikes that are 2 to 3.5 cm (0.8 to 1.4 in) in length with small lemon yellow flowers. Following flowering linear woody brown seed pods are formed that are raised over the seeds and constricted between. The pods have a length of around 12 cm (5 in) and a width of 0.45 cm (0.18 in).[5] The black seeds within have a broadly elliptic shape and are 4 to 5.5 millimetres (0.157 to 0.217 in) in length.[4]
Taxonomyedit
The species was first formally described by the botanist Joseph Maiden in 1920 as part of the work Notes on Acacias, No. IV, with descriptions of new species as published in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. It was reclassified in 1987 by Leslie Pedley as Racosperma shirleyi, then transferred back to its original genus in 2001.[8]
The species name honours John Shirley, an educationist and scientist, who also served on the council of the Royal Society of Queensland for 33 years and was twice President.[10]
Distributionedit
The tree is found in temperate and semi-arid parts of north eastern Australia in the state Queensland and the Northern Territory and covers an area of around 1,400,000 square kilometres (540,543 sq mi).[1] In Queensland it is found to the north and east from around Toowoomba and eastwards into the Northern Territory to around the Victoria River.[4] It is often part of monsoon forest or dry scrubland but is not a part of rainforest communities.[5] It is also found in low open forests or mixed savannah woodlands and can form dense stands.[4]
Uses and cultivationedit
The wood is hard and heavy, and is a rich dark brown with pale sapwood. Indigenous people used the wood as fuel and to make hunting spears.[6] The bark contains tannins and can be used as an astringent for treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery when taken internally.[11] It is not suitable for use as fence posts as it tends to rot when in the ground.[12] Lancewood is a hardy tree with potential as a shelter or screening plant. Cattle can eat its leaves for fodder.[6]
The plant grows well in a sunny position in a well-drained soil and is drought tolerant. It grows in mainly frost-free regions but can tolerate a light frost. It is suitable in areas of shallow and nutrient deficient slightly acid soils. Seedlings are initially slow growing but can increase in size by 180 centimetres (71 in) per year once established. They can produce flowers at an age of 14 months.[11] Seeds need to be pretreated by scarification prior to planting. It has a symbiotic relationship with different types of soil bacteria that can form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.[11]
^ abcWilliams, E. (2017). "Acacia shirleyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22483811A22484311. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T22483811A22484311.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Lancewood – Acacia shirleyi". WetlandInfo. Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
^"Acacia shirleyi". Austrahort. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
^ abcFitzgerald, P.J. (1991). "The utilisation potential of Acacia shirleyi in the Northern Territory, Australia" (PDF). ACIAR Proceedings Series (35): 151–152.
^Brock, John (2001) [1988]. Native plants of northern Australia. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: New Holland Press. p. 74. ISBN978-1-876334-67-3.
^E.N.Marks. "Shirley, John (1849–1922)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
^Eric Anderson (2016). Plants of Central Queensland: Identification and Uses of Native and Introduced Species. CSIRO publishing. ISBN9781486302260.
External linksedit
Media related to Acacia shirleyi at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Acacia shirleyi at Wikispecies
November 26, 2023
acacia, shirleyi, known, colloquially, lancewood, species, acacia, native, queensland, northern, territory, australia, grows, tree, metres, high, with, dark, grey, black, stringy, bark, blue, grey, foliage, yellow, flowers, appear, from, march, july, grows, sc. Acacia shirleyi known colloquially as lancewood 2 3 is a species of Acacia native to Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia 1 It grows as a tree to 15 metres 49 ft high with dark grey or black stringy bark and blue grey foliage The yellow flowers appear from March to July It grows in dry scrub open forest or mixed savannah woodland Indigenous people used the wood as fuel and to make hunting spears Cattle can eat the foliage as fodder Acacia shirleyiConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder FabalesFamily FabaceaeSubfamily CaesalpinioideaeClade Mimosoid cladeGenus AcaciaSpecies A shirleyiBinomial nameAcacia shirleyiMaidenOccurrence data from AVHSynonymsRacosperma shirleyi Maiden PedleyA shirleyi woodlandA shirleyi habit Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Distribution 4 Uses and cultivation 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription editThe small tree has a single stem 4 which is layered with dead bark 5 and an umbrella shaped habit It typically grows to a height of around 15 metres 49 ft The stringy bark is dark grey to black in colour 4 and the trunk can be up to 60 centimetres 24 in thick 6 When cut or exposed the bark will emit an odour reminiscent of violets 5 The evergreen linear to slightly curved phyllodes are around 10 to 15 centimetres 4 to 6 in in length and 0 2 to 0 7 cm 0 08 to 0 28 in wide Veins are only found in the midrib area and are raised on both surfaces of the blade 5 The foliage has a blue grey hue overall 7 It flowers between about March and July 4 producing moderately dense flower spikes that are 2 to 3 5 cm 0 8 to 1 4 in in length with small lemon yellow flowers Following flowering linear woody brown seed pods are formed that are raised over the seeds and constricted between The pods have a length of around 12 cm 5 in and a width of 0 45 cm 0 18 in 5 The black seeds within have a broadly elliptic shape and are 4 to 5 5 millimetres 0 157 to 0 217 in in length 4 Taxonomy editThe species was first formally described by the botanist Joseph Maiden in 1920 as part of the work Notes on Acacias No IV with descriptions of new species as published in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales It was reclassified in 1987 by Leslie Pedley as Racosperma shirleyi then transferred back to its original genus in 2001 8 A shirleyi is most closely related to Acacia distans 9 and Acacia catenulata and all have a resemblance to Acacia aneura It is known to form hybrids with Acacia rhodoxylon in parts of Queensland 4 The species name honours John Shirley an educationist and scientist who also served on the council of the Royal Society of Queensland for 33 years and was twice President 10 Distribution editThe tree is found in temperate and semi arid parts of north eastern Australia in the state Queensland and the Northern Territory and covers an area of around 1 400 000 square kilometres 540 543 sq mi 1 In Queensland it is found to the north and east from around Toowoomba and eastwards into the Northern Territory to around the Victoria River 4 It is often part of monsoon forest or dry scrubland but is not a part of rainforest communities 5 It is also found in low open forests or mixed savannah woodlands and can form dense stands 4 Uses and cultivation editThe wood is hard and heavy and is a rich dark brown with pale sapwood Indigenous people used the wood as fuel and to make hunting spears 6 The bark contains tannins and can be used as an astringent for treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery when taken internally 11 It is not suitable for use as fence posts as it tends to rot when in the ground 12 Lancewood is a hardy tree with potential as a shelter or screening plant Cattle can eat its leaves for fodder 6 The plant grows well in a sunny position in a well drained soil and is drought tolerant It grows in mainly frost free regions but can tolerate a light frost It is suitable in areas of shallow and nutrient deficient slightly acid soils Seedlings are initially slow growing but can increase in size by 180 centimetres 71 in per year once established They can produce flowers at an age of 14 months 11 Seeds need to be pretreated by scarification prior to planting It has a symbiotic relationship with different types of soil bacteria that can form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil 11 See also editList of Acacia speciesReferences edit a b c Williams E 2017 Acacia shirleyi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22483811A22484311 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T22483811A22484311 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Lancewood Acacia shirleyi WetlandInfo Department of Environment and Science Queensland 2018 Retrieved 5 October 2018 Acacia shirleyi Austrahort Retrieved 5 October 2018 a b c d e f g Acacia shirleyi World Wide Wattle Western Australian Herbarium Retrieved 5 October 2018 a b c d e F A Zich B P M Hyland T Whiffen R A Kerrigan 2020 Acacia shirleyi Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants RFK8 Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research CANBR Australian Government Retrieved 27 May 2021 a b c Fitzgerald P J 1991 The utilisation potential of Acacia shirleyi in the Northern Territory Australia PDF ACIAR Proceedings Series 35 151 152 Brock John 2001 1988 Native plants of northern Australia Frenchs Forest New South Wales New Holland Press p 74 ISBN 978 1 876334 67 3 Acacia shirleyi Maiden Lancewood Atlas of Living Australia Global Biodiversity Information Facility Retrieved 5 October 2018 Acacia distans World Wide Wattle Western Australian Herbarium Retrieved 5 October 2018 E N Marks Shirley John 1849 1922 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University Retrieved 5 October 2018 a b c Ken Fern Acacia shirleyi Useful Tropical Plants Retrieved 5 October 2018 Eric Anderson 2016 Plants of Central Queensland Identification and Uses of Native and Introduced Species CSIRO publishing ISBN 9781486302260 External links edit nbsp Media related to Acacia shirleyi at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Acacia shirleyi at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Acacia shirleyi amp oldid 1054741863, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
