Citation: J. H. Maiden and W. F. Blakely, J.R. Soc. N.S..W. 60:184 (1927), A. retinodes var. gillii Maiden, Trans. R.Soc. S.Aust. 32:275 (1908),

Derivation: gillii-commemorates Mr. Walter Gill (1851-1929) a former Conservator of Forests in S.Aust. and also Mr. Thomas Gill (1849-1923), Under Treasurer 1894.

Synonymy: A. pycnantha Benth. var. angustifolia Benth., Fl.Aust. 2:365 (1864); A. retinodes Schldl. var. angustifolia (Benth.)J. Black, F1. S. Aust. 277 (1924).

Common name: Gill's wattle

Description:
Slender, straggly, wiry, open shrubs or small trees 2-4 m high with pendulous branches, trunk slender, with smooth grey-brown bark; branchlets reddish, angular, flexuous often in a regular zig-zag line.

Phyllodes linear, oblanceolate, 5-15 cm long, 4-12 mm broad, flat, coriaceous, falcate, generally spreading but sometimes reflexed, glabrous, mid-vein prominent, marginal veins similar, lateral veins rather obscure, apex obtuse with a very short mucro, tapered towards the base into a somewhat twisted wrinkled pulvinus; glands small near the base.

Inflorescences axillary, solitary or in flexuous racemes owing to the reduction of phyllodes; flower-heads globular, golden yellow, c. 50-flowered; peduncles solitary, 10-20 mm long; flowers 5-merous.

Legumes linear, 10-17 cm long, 5-6 mm broad, usually slightly curved, flattish but raised over the seeds, apex acute; margins vein-like, slightly constricted between the seeds. Seeds longitudinal in legume; funicle long, reddish-brown in a double fold around the seed, tapering into a conspicuous oblique whitish aril.

Distribution:  Endemic to the Eyre Peninsula region (southern part) in the Port Lincoln and Marble Range area, occurs in undulating open mallee scrub often associated with Eucalyptus diversifolia and E. anceps. Soils; red shallow porous loamy. Rainfall 500 mm. S.Aust.: EP. Conservation status: Lang & Kraehenbuehl (1987) consider this species to be Vulnerable and Briggs & Leigh (1988) to be Vulnerable and inadequately conserved. Flowering time: Irregular periods throughout the year.

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

Biology: No text

Related taxa: Two closely related species are A. pycnantha (sp. 58) and A. retinodes (sp. 48) the main differences being that A. gillii is an open wiry shrub with pendulous flexuose branches.

Cultivation: Little known in cultivation, however, a specimen is doing well in the mallee section of the Botanic Garden, Adelaide. It appears to be fast growing and would be suitable for ornamental purposes.

Author: Not yet available

Source: