Citation: F. Mueller, Pl. lndig. Colon. Vic. 2:9 (1863).

Derivation: nysso (Gr.)—to prick, stab, afflict; phyllum (Gr.)—a leaf.

Synonymy: A. colletioides var. nyssophylla (F. Muell.) Benth., Fl. Aust. 2:326 (1864).

Common name: None

Description:
Rigid, prickly, rounded, intricately branched shrubs 2-3 m high and often spreading the same or more across; branchlets reddish-brown and pubescent but becoming grey and glabrous with age, marked with raised scars of phyllode bases; bark grey, slightly fissured at base of stems.

Phyllodes 1-2.5 cm long, 1-1.5mm diam., terete-compressed very rigid, pungent, spreading, sometimes with a few scattered hairs, slightly swollen at the base and situated on raised phyllode bases, veins longitudinal 16 or more, inconspicuous and closely placed; glands small usually 2 mm or up to half the distance along the phyllode from the base.

Inflorescences simple and axillary, usually twin or in clusters up to 5; flower-heads small more or less globular, mid-yellow, c. 15-flowered; peduncles slender, glabrous about 1/2 as long as phyllodes; flowers 5-merous.

Legumes narrow-oblong, 3-6 cm long, 4-5 mm broad, curved and twisted, firmly chartaceous, margins slightly contracted between seeds. Seeds longitudinal in legume, ellipsoid; funicle short, thickening into a large conical yellowish aril.

Distribution:  Scattered across S.Aust., from the W.Aust. border in the Nullarbor, Gairdner Torrens, Eyre Peninsula (northern part), Yorke Peninsula, Northern and Southern Lofty, Eastern and Murray regions. Mainly in open scrub or low woodland. Soils; mainly shallow calcareous or shallow compact loamy and brown calcareous earths. Rainfall 150-500 mm. Also W.Aust., N.T., N.S.W. and Vic. S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP. Flowering time: August — October.

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

Biology: No text

Related taxa: Acacia colletioides (sp. 74) and Acacia enterocarpa (sp. 75); refer to these species for distinguishing features.

Taxonomic notes: Only Amyema preissii, wire-leaved mistletoe has been recorded on A. nyssophylla but see note under A. colletioides.

Cultivation: Suitable for planting in inland areas and would assist in soil stabilisation due to the spreading habit. A prickly shrub but quite showy when in flower.

Author: Not yet available

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