Citation: J. Lindley in Mitch., Three Exped. E. Aust. 2:138 (1838).

Derivation: scleros (Gr.)--hard; phyllum (Gr.)--a leaf.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Hard-leaf wattle

Description:
Low, much-branched, spreading shrubs 1-2 m high, often much wider than high; branches almost terete, slightly hoary when young becoming glabrous with age; bark grey, slightly fissured.

Phyllodes narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly oblong-cuneate, 1-4 cm long, 2-4 mm broad, straight or slightly curved, thick, compressed, striate, sometimes minutely scaly, slightly viscid and papillose when young, veins longitudinal, 2-5, prominent with less obvious intermediate ones, apex obtuse with a short hard straight mucro; glands small near the base on upper margin,

Inflorescences simple and axillary, solitary or twin; flower-heads bright yellow, globular, c. 20-flowered; peduncles filiform, much shorter than phyllodes, slightly hairy; flowers 5-merous.

Legumes linear, 3-6 cm long, 2-3 mm broad, curved, circinate, finely twisted, raised over the seeds, margins slightly constricted between seeds. Seeds longitudinal in legumes, ovoid; funicle filiform, short, abruptly terminating in a large fleshy white cup-shaped aril.

Distribution:  Common from Streaky Bay on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula through Yorke Peninsula and Northern and Southern Lofty, and Murray regions to Victoria. On Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula found mainly in open scrub with Eucalyptus incrassata, Melaleuca uncinata or E. diversifolia, in the Murray region in open scrub with E. socialis and E. gracilis. Soils: mainly sandy alkaline yellow duplex, red shallow porous loam, brown calcareous earths and dark grey-brown calcareous loam earths. Rainfall 250-500 mm. Also W.Aust., N.S.W. and Vic. Flowering time: July — 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 farinosa differs in branchlets and flower peduncles, covered with a hoary white mealiness, A. wilhelmiana is a viscid shrub. A. lineolata, A. multilineata and A. ancistrophylla are Western Australian and related at least superficially.

Taxonomic notes: A single collection of Amyema preissii, wiry mistletoe, is the only mistletoe so far recorded on Acacia sclerophylla.

A. sclerophylla is a food plant for the larvae of the butterfly Nacaduba biocellata, Fisher (1978).

Cultivation: The species is hardy, drought resistant, compact and could be suitable for ground cover or ornamental planting in coastal, inland and exposed situations. Also useful for roadside planting, on median strips, slopes and verges. Moderate growth rate.

Author: Not yet available

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