Citation: F. Mueller, Fragm. Phyt. Aust. 3:46 (1862).

Derivation: maitlandii—in honour of Maitland Brown, botanical collector in Western Australia, who was on the Frank Gregory exploration trip to the north-west in 1861. Died in Perth, 1905.

Synonymy: A. patens F. Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Aust. 2:329 (1864). Racosperma maitlandii (F. Muell.)Pedley, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. (London) 92:248 (1986).

Common name: Maitland's wattle

Description:
Erect, rather open, straggly, glabrous resinous shrubs 1-3 m high often branching into several main stems from the base; branchlets terete reddish-brown,. mature stems scarred by the phyllode bases; bark thin and dark grey.

Phyllodes narrow oblong-elliptic broadest at or near the centre, 1-2.5 cm long, 2.5-5 mm broad straight or slightly curved, rigid, spreading, rather crowded, mid-vein prominent, lateral veins few and rather obscure, obliquely tapering into a thin pungent point; glands small near the middle on the upper margin. Stipules small c. 1 mm long lanceolate-subulate ascending rather persistent at the base of each phyllode.

Inflorescences simple and axillary, solitary; flower-heads globular mid-yellow 50-60-flowered; peduncles glabrous longer or shorter than phyllodes; flowers 5-merous.

Legumes stipitate, linear, 2-3 cm long, c. 3 mm broad, flat more or less straight chartaceous; margins slightly constricted between the seeds, apex acute. Seeds longitudinal in legume, obloid; funicle short and filiform, not expanded into an aril.

Distribution:  A small scattered occurrence in the North-Western region in the Mann Birksgate and Musgrave Ranges area, associated with tall shrubland or low open woodland vegetation on sandy spinifex plains, sandhills or rocky slopes. Soils; neutral red earths, red earthy sands and red siliceous sands. Rainfall 150-200 mm. Also W.Aust., Qld, N.T. S.Aust.: NW. Flowering time: June — September.

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

Biology: No text

Related taxa: Acacia siculiformis is very similar as to flowers and phyllodes and is sometimes difficult to distinguish. This species however, does not occur in S.Aust., its distribution being the eastern highlands of N.S.W., Vic. and Tas.

Cultivation: Little known in cultivation; it may be useful as an ornamental suitable for rockery planting in dry inland areas.

Author: Not yet available

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