Citation: J. M. Black, Trans. R. Soc. S.Aust. 56:42 t.1 (1932).

Derivation: barattensis—refers to the Baratta Head Station, where this species was first discovered.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Baratta wattle

Description:
Erect, somewhat diffuse, spreading, viscid, aromatic shrubs 2-3 m high, with a number of slender branches arising from near ground level; branchlets slender, erect angular and very viscid towards their apices, becoming terete and less viscid on older stems and often covered with a blackish sooty substance.

Phyllodes narrow-linear, compressed, never terete, 5-10 cm long, 1-1.5 mm broad, erect, mostly slightly curved, viscid, sticky and shiny with a resinous odour, veins longitudinal resinous, 8 in all (including margins), 3-veined on each face, often shallowly grooved between veins, apex abruptly uncinate; glands small on upper margin c. 2-3 mm above the base.

Inflorescences simple and axillary, solitary or twin; flower-heads globular, pale yellow, c. 30-flowered; peduncles slender,.8-13 mm long, viscid; flowers 4-merous.

Legumes linear, 6-15 cm long, 2.5-3.5 mm broad, flat straight or slightly curved, viscid when young, dark brown when mature, margins thickened and straw coloured, constricted between the seeds. Seeds longitudinal in legume, obloid-ellipsoid; funicle much folded above a large thickened aril.

Distribution:  Endemic to South Australia and restricted to the eastern Flinders Ranges and just into the Eastern region around the 'Baratta' Homestead area. It grows in deep gullies mainly along rocky creek beds, associated with Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Callitris columellaris. Soils; shallow calcareous loam. Rainfall 200-250 mm. S.Aust.: FR, EA. Conservation status: Briggs & Leigh (1988) consider this species to be Vulnerable. Flowering time: Irregular, observed from April — December.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Related taxa: A. wilhelmiana (sp. 68), and A. menzelii (sp. 69), have shorter phyllodes. A. gracilifolia (sp. 110) has filiform and deeply grooved phyllodes with fewer veins. All above 3 species have 5-merous flowers.

Taxonomic notes: Crisp (1976) published a redescription of A. barattensis with the account of its rediscovery. The species is closely restricted to deep gorges of a range at Bibliando where it is largely inaccessible. It is not at 'Baratta head-station' as originally cited by Black but 'North of Baratta Head Station' as collected by Cleland. Crisp considers it closely related to A. gracilifolia, A. wilhelmiana, A. helmsiana and A. menzelii.

Cultivation: Not known in cultivation as yet, but from seedlings raised it appears to have a moderately fast growing rate.

Author: Not yet available

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