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Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Acacieae
Genus: Acacia
Species: Acacia macradenia
Name

Acacia macradenia Benth., 1848
Synonyms

Racosperma macradenium (Benth.) Pedley

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
Acacia macradenia

Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
Queensland

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Bentham, G. in T. L. Mitchell, 1848. Journal of an Expedition into the interior of Tropical Australia 360.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Acacia macradenia in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Aug 07. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Acacia macradenia. Published online. Accessed: Aug 07 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Acacia macradenia. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Aug 07.
Hassler, M. Aug. Acacia macradenia. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. Aug. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: Aug 07 {{{3}}}. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Acacia macradenia in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
English: Zig-zag Wattle


Acacia macradenia is also known as the zig-zag wattle, which derives from its zig-zag stem growth pattern. Another name used to identify A. macradenia is the 'bed of rivers'. Distinguishing features include alternating phyllodes, yellow globular clusters growing at the forks of the branches and a 'zig-zag' stem.[1]

Taxonomy

George Bentham described Acacia macradenia in 1848 and it still bears its original name.[2] The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek words macros "long" and adenos "gland".

It has hybridised with A. bancroftiorum in the wild, with the resulting plants resembling A. holotricha. A. macradenia has interbred with the fringed wattle (A. fimbriata) in cultivation.[2]
Distribution

Native to Australia, Acacia macradenia ranges across Central Queensland, Australia and is cultivated in areas around Chinchilla and Pentland.[3] However, due to its invasive growth habits, it has been spotted in parks outside its originated area such as Ipswich.
Habitat and ecology

Acacia macradenia is a shrub that grows preferably in cool climate to warm climate by sandy or gravelly areas near creeks. The cold temperature prepares and enhances a stronger flowering effect of the seeds when temperatures increase.[3] Acacia macradenia can adapt to areas affected by air pollution. In an experiment, Acacia macradenia seeds were placed in environments with different concentrations of air pollution and results show stable photosynthetic and transpiration rate relative to a non-polluted environment.[4]
Description

The branches of the Acacia macradenia plant are hairless and smooth. Generally, the younger part of the stem is green and the older parts are brown. Known as phyllodes, the leaf-likes are actually flattened leaf-stalks or petioles. Initially they are bipinnate. The darker phyllodes are typically older and longer have a lanceolate leaf shape compared to the younger phyllodes which are much smaller in size and shape.[1] The A. macradenia plant or tree can grow up to 5 m in height and 4 m spread.[3] The branches are pendulous (loosely hanging) to subpendulous and flexuose (fully bending).

The small yellow globular clusters are found at the stalk of the stem. Each globular cluster contains numerous flowering plants which can range between 35 and 50 flowers per cluster.[1] Each plant contains five petals and sepals and many stamens which gives each cluster of flowers a soft look when fully bloomed.[1] The growth of each globular cluster are weather dependent. Optimal flowering conditions favor temperatures in February through March. If there is growth, it will be indicated by areas of redness. If globular clusters do not appear, the phyllodes that are already produced will continue to grow in an alternating pattern. The fruits of the zig-zag wattle are the black pods that have lima-bean-like structure that are found on the plant. The pods are small, curved and have a smooth exterior casing. The pods appear green initially but begins to turn brown-black as temperatures increase through the spring, eventually reaching full maturation.[1] At full maturation, the pods can reach in length up to 12 cm long. Inside these pods are hard brown seeds in a shape of bean. In an experiment conducted to test the effect of seed germination vs. temperature on Acacia seeds, the results showed that seeds that were treated with hot water had higher germination compared to seeds that were treated with cooler water.[5]
text
Yellow clusters and phyllodes
Dispersal

Acacia macradenia seeds are spread naturally by birds, ants, and other animals, though the largest contributor to its dispersal are from the direct results of planting by humans.[1] It has been used in revegetation efforts and is also planted for its ornamental value, with "unusual architecture and striking floral displays".[1] Due to the high seed dispersal rate of A. macradenia, its growth habits could potentially classify the species as invasive; it continues to inhabit and dominate new areas across Australia. Australia has no law to inhibit the spread of A. macradenia.[1] The successful growing habits of A. macradenia seem to be encouraged by the hard-shelled seeds' ability to survive and outlive other invasive Acacia species in Australia.[6]
Cultivation

Acacia macradenia prefers a well-drained situation, preferably in full sun. Successful cultivation has been recorded in coastal areas in eastern Australia from Townsville south to Melbourne. However, plants have succumbed to heavy frosts in some inland locations such as Canberra.[7]
References

Biosecurity Queensland (2011). "Factsheet: Acacia macradenia". Weeds of Australia: Biosecurity Queensland Edition. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
"Acacia macradenia Benth". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
Townsend, Keith (August 2010). "Acacia macradenia". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 1 May 2012.
Dazhi, Wen; Zhu Jianyun; Cao Honglin; Zhang Deqiang; Ye Yongchang; Liu Songsong; Li Gulohui (2002–2004). "Responses of the three acacia species seedlings exposed to short-term air pollution". Ecologic Science. ISSN 1008-8873. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
Clemens, J; P.G. Jones; N.H. Gilbert (1977). "Effects of Seed Treatments on Germination in Acacia" (PDF). Journal of Botany. 25: 269–76. doi:10.1071/bt9770269. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
Novie, Sheldon (July 2011). "zig-zag wattle (Acacia macradenia)" (PDF). weedwatch. technigro. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
Simmons, Marion (1987). Acacias of Australia - Volume 1. Australia: Nelson. p. 176. ISBN 0170071790.

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