dune wattle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dune wattle
• little cooba
• sandhill acacia
• sandhill wattle
• small cooba
• umbrella wattle
• umbrella-bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Racosperma ligulatum
• Acacia pallidiramosa
• Acacia salicina var. wayi
• Acacia bivenosa subsp. wayi

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is classified under the genus Acacia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across both Western Asia and the Australian continent. Within Western Asia, its presence has been documented specifically in Cyprus. In Australia, the species is widely spread across several different states and territories. It can be found in the northern regions of the Northern Territory, as well as in the eastern state of Queensland. Additionally, its range extends to the southern parts of the country, including South Australia and Victoria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Acacia ligulata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a long-lived woody plant, it undergoes a developmental trajectory that begins with seed germination, often triggered by specific environmental cues such as fire or moisture availability, followed by a period of vegetative establishment where it develops its structural framework. Throughout its life, the plant undergoes seasonal cycles of growth, flowering, and seed production, maintaining its presence in the ecosystem through robust root systems and regenerative capabilities typical of perennial woody taxa.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Acacia ligulata is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning primarily as a shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, nor does it act as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining an independent life cycle in a terrestrial habitat. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 4 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acacia ligulata is characterized by a specialized photosynthetic strategy and distinct foliar morphology. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic process typical of many woody species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit a narrow, elongated structure with a leaf width ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 1 cm. The longitudinal dimensions of the leaves are similarly specialized, with leaf lengths varying from a minimum of 3 cm up to a maximum of 10 cm.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Acacia ligulata is characterized by the production of fruit categorized as a pod, which serves as the primary vessel for seed development. These fruits are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to facilitate the release of the seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit a notable range in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.00935 g and a maximum weight of 0.06164 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.027578125 g. Regarding the movement of progeny, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the distribution of its seeds across the environment.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass max:

0.06164 g

Seed mass mean:

0.027578125 g

Seed mass min:

0.00935 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acacia ligulata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Acacia ligulata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ABTS, DPPH.

ABTS

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

DPPH

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Acacia ligulata has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Natural product research

Cytotoxic

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Acacia ligulata has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Streptococcus pyogenes, hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, type 2 diabetes.

Streptococcus pyogenes

1. Natural product research

Hyperglycemia

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Oxidative stress

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Type 2 diabetes

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Acacia ligulata has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract, extracts.

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of natural products

Extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine