The side or face away from theaxis.  Most commonly used here when referring to the lower margin of thephyllode.  Synonym:Dorsal. Opposite to Adaxial.

Needle-shaped.

Tapering gradually to a protracted point.  SeeCaudate.

Tapering to a distinct but not protracted point, with more or lessstraight sides forming an angle of less than 90 degrees.

The side or face next to theaxis.  Most commonly used here when referring to the upper (gland-bearing) margin of thephyllode.  Synonym:Ventral.  Opposite toAbaxial.

Nerves branching and rejoining to form an intertwining network.  SeeNerve Islands andReticulum.

In the form of a ring.

The pollen-bearing part of thestamen.

The flowering period, when flowers are fully expanded and functioning.  Acacia flowers are considered to be atanthesis when the anthers areexserted.

Directed forward or upward.  Most commonly used here with for hairs that are bent towards the apex ofbranchlets or phyllodes.  Compare Retrorse.

Without leaves or phyllodes.

Tipped by a short, slender, flexible and often sharp point.

Pressed close or flat against another organ.

Bearing long, cobwebby, entangled hairs.

Tree like.

Curved into an arch, like a bow.

A small, well-defined area on a surface.  Used here mainly to describe the area on the seed surface circumscribed by thepleurogram.

The expanded end of thefunicle.  Commonly there is a morphological discontinuity between thefunicle and thearil, however, sometimes there is no clear distinction between the two and then the whole structure is referred to as thefunicle/aril.  SeeExarillate andFunicle.

Bearing an awn or bristle at the tip.

As used here the term applies to the one-seeded segments of apod which are separated from one another by deep constrictions of thepod valves.

Jointed; having joints where separation may occur naturally.

Growing upwards, with an angle of divergence of 16-45 degrees.

Not symmetric.

Tapering gradually to a narrow tip or base.

SeeAxis.

The point of the upper angle formed between thebranch and thephyllode.

Arising within the angle (axil) formed by the branchlet and thephyllode.  SeeSimple.

Arigid,woody modifiedstem with a ± sharp point; unlike pricklesaxillary spines have a vascular trace.  Axillary spines occur at nodes (together with a pair ofscariousstipules) in a few Western Australianbipinnate-leaved species (very rarely found in phyllodinoustaxa). Same asThorn.

The central supporting structure (or imaginary line) around which various organs are developed, for example, peduncles borne on aracemeaxis. Plural:Axes.

The term 'gland basal' usually means that thephyllodegland is located adjacent to thepulvinus (or within a few millimeters above thepulvinus).

One or more bracts located at base of the peduncles. These bracts are normally small and are commonlycaducous; not all species of Acacia possessbasal peduncular bracts. Not to be confused withBasal raceme bracts orInvolucre.

One or more bracts located at base ofracemeaxis. These bracts encloseinflorescence buds; they are not common in Acacia. When presentbasal raceme bracts may be conspicuous but they commonly fall away as the racemes elongate (in which case their presence can be inferred bybract scars at the extreme base of theracemeaxis: observe at x10 magnification). Not to be confused withBasal peduncular bracts.

In two vertical rows. Used here with reference to phyllodes that arecontinuous anddecurrent and form narrow or broad wings on opposite side of the branchlet.

Deeply two-cleft or two-lobed, usually from the tip.

Two-forked.

Borne in pairs.

Twicepinnate, i.e. compound leaves comprising a centralaxis and (one to many) secondaryaxes arranged on opposite sides of it (leaflets are arranged on opposite sides of the secondaryaxes).

A whitish, powdery or waxy coating on a surface. SeePruinose.

Thetrunk of atree.

A shortbranch.

A reduced leaf or leaf-like structure associated with a flower orinflorescence.

As used here this term applies to the smallbract that subtends each flower in the heads and spikes of most Australian species of Acacia. Bracteoles normally consist of a slenderClaw and an expandedlamina.

Primary divisions of thestem.

Ultimate divisions of thebranch.

Falling off early. Compare Deciduous.

SeeCallous.

Hardened or thickened; having acallus. SeeCallus.

A hard thickening or protuberance. SeeCallous.

A collective term for all the sepals of a flower.

Grey or white in colour due to a covering of short, fine hairs.

Head-like, or in ahead-shaped cluster.

A small cluster ofsessile flowers.

Pertaining to fruits.

Tough and firm but elastic and flexible, like cartilage.

Chestnut-coloured; dark reddish brown.

Excessivelyacuminate, so that the point is long and weak, like the tail of some animals.

With a papery texture.

With a marginal fringe of hairs. Dim. Ciliolate.

Ash-coloured.

Used here to describe pods where they arecurved orcoiled within theplane of the suture (if curving normal to suture the termcoiled is used).

Lemon yellow colour.

Club-shaped.

The usually narrow supporting structure at base of Bracteole orSepal.

A group of individuals originating from a single parent plant by vegetative reproduction.

To wind into rings, one above another, with the opposite ends overlapping. The coils can be regular or irregularly formed, and may form a tight spiral. As used here this term is most commonly applied to pods with coils normal to theplane of the suture. SeeCircinnate.

A leaf divided into two or more leaflets. SeeBipinnate and Pinnate.

As used here the term is applied to narrow, “thick” organs, especially phyllodes, which are subjectively judged as being intermediate between Flat andSub-terete.

Of one colour. Use here for when the upper and lower surfaces of leaflets are uniform in colour and shade of colour.

Blending of one part into another. Used here with reference tophyllode nerves. Different fromContiguous.

Fusion of like parts, as the fusion of staminal filaments into a tube.

Adjoining or touching (but not blending). Used here with reference to thephyllode nerves. Different fromConfluent.

Not jointed; not separating at maturity along a well-defined line ofdehiscence. SeeDecurrent.

Twisted or bent.

Rounded andcurved outwards on the surface.

New growth arising from a stump.

Heart-shaped, with a notch at the base.

With a leathery texture.

The collective name for all the petals of a flower.

Withrounded teeth along the margin.

With very smallrounded teeth along the margin.

Curled, wavy or crinkled. Used here with reference to hairs of theindumentum.

When similar parts are close together, as in phyllodes alongbranchlets orlongitudinal nerves on plurinerved phyllodes.

With a hard, brittle texture.

Hooded or hood-shaped.

Having the shape of a knife-blade.

Having three sides and three angles, with the widestaxis above the middle; length: width ratio >2: 1 to <12: 1. A 2-dimensional shape. SeeObdeltate andObtriangular.

Cup-shaped; nearly hemispherical, like an acorn-cup.

When an organ is continuously bent into an arc (but the ends not overlapping

A short, sharp point.

Tipped with a short, sharp point.

The waxy layer on the surface of a leaf orbranch.

Cylinder-shaped; elongate (more than twice as long as wide) and round in cross-section. See alsoSpike.

Falling off; notpersistent. Compare Caducous.

Spreading horizontally (of the reclining on the ground) but with the tips growing upwards.

Extending downward from the point of insertion, e.g. base of phyllodes that extend down along thebranch as awing (broad or narrow) orrib.

Bent abruptly downward.

The opening at maturity of pods.

Having three sides and three angles, with the widestaxis below the middle; length: width ratio about 1: 1. A 2-dimensional shape. See Triangular.

Flowers pressed closely together in heads or spikes. Compare withInterrupted.

Sunk down, as if flattened from above.

Phyllode flattened in the horizontalplane (as opposed to being flattened in the verticalplane, which is what normally occurs in Acacia). In diaphyllodes thegland is found on the upper surface of thelamina, not on the upper edge as occurs in vertically flattened phyllodes.

Widely or loosely spreading.

Halved. The term is applied her with reference to phyllodes that have a ±straight lower margin and a clearlyconvex upper margin.

With two forms.

In the form of a disk.

Resembling a disk.

Of different colours. Use here for when the upper and lower surfaces of leaflets are unlike in colour (commonly different shades of green).

Towards the tip, or the end of the organ opposite the end of attachment. CompareProximal.

When similar parts are not closely aggregated, as inlongitudinal nerves of plurinerved phyllodes that are widely spaced.

Arranged in two ranks or rows on opposite sides of anaxis (e.g.stem) and thus in the sameplane.

Widely diverging or spreading apart.

SeeAbaxial.

Having structurally different upper and lower surfaces.

Covered with soft, fine hairs.

Without abract.

With small prickles or spines.

Pertaining to soil.

Without agland.

A solid bodyelliptic in long section.

In the shape of an oval, i.e. broadest at middle withcurved sides. Length to width ratio about 2: 1. A 2-dimensional shape. See Narrowlyelliptic.

With a notch at the apex.

Peculiar to a specific geographic area.

The true cellular skin or covering of a plant organ situated below thecuticle.

Growing upwards, with an angle of divergence of less than 16 degrees.

The margin irregularly toothed, as if gnawed.

Without anaril.

Off-center, e.g. themucro ormidrib set to one side of the centralaxis of thephyllode.

Projecting beyond the surrounding parts, as bracteoles protruding beyond flower buds.

SeeGland.

Sickle-shaped or scimitar-shaped. A term of varied application but as used here refers to phyllodes which are generally broadest near the middle,recurved, narrowed towards the apex and usually also the base. The upper margin of thephyllode is clearlyconvex and the lower margin clearly concave. SeeSub-falcate.

A tight bundle or cluster. SeeFasciculate.

Clustered from a common point. As used here phyllodes are consideredfasciculate if 2 or more arise from a single point on the branchlet.

Rust-coloured.

Containing or resembling fibre.

A thread-like structure (as in the stalk of theStamen which supports theAnther).

Thread-like.

Fringed with minute hairs along the margin.

Split or cracked (used with reference to bark).

Fan-shaped.

Limp, notrigid.

Thick and pulpy; succulent.

Zig-zagged.

SeeHead.

With furrows or grooves, as occurs on the trunks of a few species such asA. coolgardiensis,A. catenulata andA. shirleyi.

Leaf-like; bearing leaves.

Crumbly.

sooty, or soot-coloured.

The cord that connects the seed to thepod (or theovule to the placenta). SeeAril.

Spindle-shaped; broadest near the middle and tapered towards both ends.

Helmet-shaped.

Having the pepals united by their margins, at least at the base.

Having the sepals united by their margins, at least at the base.

In equal pairs like twins.

Swollen or enlarged on one side; a pouch-like enlargement of the base of an organ. Same asGibbous.

SeeGibbose.

Becomingglabrous, especially with age or maturity (i.e. defines the process).

Without hairs.

Small secretory structures (extra-floral nectaries) normally situated on the upper margin of phyllodes or leafaxes. See also Jugarygland,Interjugarygland and Petiolargland.

Blue-green colour (normally with a surfacebloom). SeePruinose.

SeeGlobular.

Spherical (a 3 dimensional term).Same as Globose.

Sticky. Same asViscid.

The environmental circumstances or kind of place where an organism occurs.

A spherical orobloid aggregation of flowers. When the flower cluster is elongated (cylindrical, i.e. more than twice as long as wide) it is called aspike.

A vascular plant that never produces awoodystem.

Six-angled.

Relating to thehilum.

The scar left on the seed where thefunicle was attached.

Hearing coarse, long hairs.

Minutelyhirsute. Used here to describe anindumentum comprising short,straight, fine, spreading hairs.

Having long,erect,rigid hairs or bristles, harsh to the touch.

Minutelyhispid.

Translucent, almost like clear glass.

Overlapping like tiles or shingles on a roof.

Situated below the surface, as in somephyllode nerves.

Unequal sided.

Ascending with an angle of divergence of 46-75 degree.

Curved upwards or inwards. Forphyllode shape sometimes a subjective distinction is made between shallowly and stronglyincurved, and betweenstraight and shallowlyincurved. See alsoCurved and Recurved. The termincurved is also used for leaflets where the margins arecurved inwards towards the upper side of theleaflet (rare in Acacia)

Not opening at maturity along definite lines or pores.

A covering of hairs.

Hardened.

Bent abruptly inwards or upwards.

The arrangement of the flowers and floweringaxes. In Acacia the flowers are aggregated intoglobular orobloid heads orcylindrical spikes, these are borne on peduncles (peduncles rarely absent) which maysimple or arranged in racemes or panicles.

Harmless; without a sharp point.

Used here with reference to Glands that are situated on upper surface of therachis between successive pairs ofpinnae, but located more than 1 mm below the insertion of thepinnae. One to severalinterjugary glands may be present; they may vary in size but are generally smaller than thejugary glands (which may co-occur on the same leaf).

The portion of a branchlet between adjacent nodes.

Individual flowers widely spaced so that theinflorescenceaxis (i.e. thereceptacle) is clearly visible between at least the unopened flowers. Compare withDense.

A space between. Used here mainly with reference to the space between adjacentlongitudinal nerves of plurinerved phyllodes.

Treated in here as synonymous withInvolucre.

A ring of bracts subtending a flower or flower cluster. In Acacia involucres are found only in members of the former subg. Acacia (Vachellia). Theinvolucre may occur anywhere along thepeduncle, from the base to the apex; in the latter case it may be hidden by the flowers when heads or spikes are atanthesis.

Used here with reference to Glands that are situated on upper surface of therachis of amulti-jugate leaf between, or up to 1 mm below, the base of a pair ofpinnae (excluding the lowermost pair). Inter-jugary may co-occur on leaves withjugary glands. See also Glands.

Cut into narrow, irregular lobes or segments, as occurs in thecalyx of a few species.

The expanded portion, or blade, of a leaf orpetal, etc. In Acacia this term is applied to the expanded apex found on many bracteoles and sometimes to the body of the phyllodes (excluding thepulvinus).

Wooly; densely covered with long, soft tangled hairs.

Lance-shaped. A term of varied application but as used here refers to a shape that is longer than wide with the broadest point below the middle, and with ±curved sides. Length to width ratio more than 3: 1 A 2-dimensional shape. If length: width ratio is less than 3 then see Ovate.

Borne on or at the side.

The mainaxis of acompound leaf. Inbipinnate-leaved species the leafaxis comprises thepetiole and (if present) therachis; it is terminated by the terminalseta.

The ultimate division of acompound leaf. Same asPinnule.

Seepod.

Somewhat corky spots on the bark (these are small, pale-coloured and can be circular, lens-shaped or slit-like).

Invested with lenticels.

Woody, climbing vine. Lianes are very rare in Australian acacias.

Resembling a line, i.e. long and narrow (more than about 9 times longer than wide) with parallel sides. A 2-dimensional shape. If length: width ratio is less than 9 then seeNarrowly oblong orOblong.

Likeoblanceolate but very long and narrow.

Triangular but with length: width ratio 12: 1 or more. A 2-dimensional shape.

Parallel to the longaxis of a structure, e.g. nerves of aphyllode, seeds in apod.

Farinaceous; powdery, dry and crumbly.

Thin, soft, flexible, and more or less translucent, like a membrane.

The number of parts within a set. Here used with reference to flowers, for example, 5-merous flowers have 5 petals and 5 sepals.

The centrallongitudinalnerve of thephyllode orpetal.

Bark reddish and shedding in short, narrow shavings which curl back on themselves from each end and which remain attached to the stems for some time. While the colour of Minni Ritchi bark always has a reddish hue it may, depending upon the species, vary from deep red or purplish to coppery orange or salmon pink. With age the outer layers of bark often turn grey and in some species this may persist as a stocking around the base of stems or as patches along branches.

Cylindrical and constricted at regular intervals, giving a beaded necklace-like appearance, e.g. pods ofA. coriacea. SeeSub-moniliform.

With coloured spots or blotches.

A small point (usually brown, hard and sometimes sharp), found at tips of most phyllodes.

Tipped with amucro.

Tipped with a very smallmucro.

Leaves possessing more than one pair ofpinnae.

With 4 or more trunks or stems arising from ground level.

When used with reference to phyllodes - possessing many, fine, close, parallel nerves.

Rough on the surface due to minute, hard outgrowths of theepidermis.

Elliptic but with length to width ratio 3: 1 or more.

Oblong but with length to width ratio 3: 1 to 9: 1.

Plants introduced from elsewhere, but now established.

Boat-shaped.

The arrangement of nerves or veins in an organ, as in phyllodes.

A strand of vascular tissue. Used here mostly in reference to the veins found on phyllodes.

Enclosed spaces created byanastomosing nerves that form thereticulum. SeeAnastomosing andReticulum.

Shiny.

The position on thestem where leaves or branches originate.

With knobs, as in protuberances formed by brachyblasts inA. tetragonophylla.

Cone-shape, with the attachment at the narrower end.

Having three sides and three angles, with the widestaxis above the middle; length: width ratio about 1: 1. A 2-dimensional shape. SeeCuneate andObtriangular.

Inverselylanceolate, with the attachment at the narrower end. A 2-dimensional shape.

Spheroidal and flattened at the poles.

Slanting. In Acacia commonly applied to seeds in pods which are intermediate betweenlongitudinal andtransverse andphyllode apices or bases that are unequal-sided.

A short cylinder (not above twice as long as wide). Used here with reference to the shape of flower-heads. Same as Oblongoid. See Heads.

Rectangular (length to width ratio >1: 1 to <3: 1), with parallel sides. A 2-dimensional shape. If length: width ratio is 3 or more than seeLinear orNarrowly oblong.

See Obloid.

Inverselyovate, with the attachment at the narrower end (not as elongate asoblanceolate). Length: width ratio about 2. A 2-dimensional shape. SeeOblanceolate

Inverselytriangular. Having three sides and three angles, with the widestaxis above the middle; length: width ratio about 2: 1. A 2-dimensional shape. SeeCuneate andObdeltate.

Rounded at apex with the sides coming together at an angle greater than 90 degrees. SeeRounded.

Circular. Length to width ratio 1: 1.

An opening or pore; usually used here with reference to the Glands (extra-floral nectaries) that have an opening located in the centre.

The swollen basal portion of the female reproductive organ with contains the ovules. Acacia flowers typically have a singleovary (rarely more) and this is terminated by the style (which often protrudes just beyond the stamens when flowers are atanthesis).

Egg-shaped in outline and attached at the broad end. Length: width ratio about 2. A 2-dimensional shape. If length: width ration is more than 3 then seeLanceolate.

A solid bodyovate in long section.

An immature seed; the megasporangium and surrounding integuments of a seed plant.

A branched,racemoseinflorescence (i.e. araceme of racemes).

Small, elongated protuberances on the surface of an organ, usually an extension of one epidermal cell. Plural:Papillae.

SeePapilla.

Having minutepapillae.

Widely spreading (at about a right angle to the supportingaxis).

The stalk of aninflorescence terminated by ahead or aspike.

SeeBasal peduncular bracts andInvolucre.

Target-shaped; a flat structure borne on a stalk which is attached to the lower surface rather than to the base or margin.

See Pendulous.

Hanging or drooping downwards. Same aspendent.

Nerves parallel to one another and arising from a main centralaxis as in minor nerves ofphyllode diverging frommidrib.

Five-angled.

With parts arranged in sets or multiples of five, as in flowers having 5 sepals.

Remaining attached to the plant beyond the expected time of falling.

A segment of theCorolla.

Glands located on the upper surface of thepetiole, between or below the point of insertion of thepinnae. Petiolar glands can besessile orstipitate.

A leaf stalk. Inbipinnate-leaved acacias thepetiole is the leaf stalk lying between the branchlet and the point of attachment of the first pair ofpinnae; the base of thepetiole is occupied by thepulvinus.

The stalk of aleaflet.

Abbreviated from phenomenology, recording the periodical phenomena of plants. As used here the term applies to the appearance of flowers and fruits.

A modified primary leafaxis which assumes the form and function of a leaf. A majority of Australian Acacia species possess phyllodes.

Having the form of a cap.

Covered with usually long and spreading, soft, weak, thin and clearly separated hairs.

Inbipinnate-leaved acacias thepinna represents one of the primary divisions of the leaf (they comprise therachilla together with the leaflets it supports).Pinna are inserted on thepetiole and (when present) therachis, occurring as an opposite pair ofpinnae, however, sometimes they aresub-opposite or alternate. Plural: Pinnae.

A pair ofpinna.

Acompound leaf with leaflets arranged on opposite sides of a central mainaxis.

See Leaflet.

With a flat surface.

Flat on one side andconvex on the other. Used here mainly for the few species having phyllodes which are flat above andconvex below.

The fine line that circumscribes theareole that occurs on the opposite faces of the seeds. Thepleurogram can be open (the opening always faces thehilum) or closed (in which case it is termed "continuous"); when open thepleurogram is commonly "u" shaped.

Folded back and forth longitudinally like a fan.

The fruit of Acacia, containing the seeds. (A usually dry, dehiscent fruit derived from one carpel that splits along two sutures.). Same as Legume.

Short, sharp-pointed, hardened outgrowths of theepidermis, with no vascular tissue connecting them to the branchlet.

Trailing or spreading along the ground but not rooting at the nodes.

Lying flat on the ground. See alsoSub-shrub.

Towards the base, or the attachment end of the organ. CompareDistal.

With a white powdery coating (bloom) on the surface. This term is treated by many authors as equivalent toglaucous, but not here. See Scurfy.

Minutely hairy with a somewhatdense cover of very short, soft hairs.

A somewhatdense cover or short, weak, soft hairs.

Classically defined as the swollen base of thepetiole; in Acacia the term is also applied to phyllodes. Thepulvinus is present in very many acacias but is not always overly pronounced. It is commonly yellowish and (at least when dry) transversely wrinkled, but is not always swollen, and is normally separated from thebranch by a joint.

Marked with dots, depressions or translucent glands.

Minutelypunctate.

Tipped with a sharp,rigid point.

Used in Acacia to describe prominent foliar glands that have relatively large orifices and well-defined rims that project beyond the margin, e.g.Acacia pustula.

With small blisters.

Four-cornered; having four angles, which are usually right angles.

In Acacia this term refers to aninflorescence comprising pedunculate heads or spikes arranged along an unbranched commonaxis (theracemeaxis). More correctly this structure should be termed araceme of heads or spikes.

The primaryaxis of theraceme.

SeeBasal raceme bracts.

Inflorescences comprising Racemes.

Used here to denote the secondaryaxis of abipinnate leaf upon which the leaflets are inserted.

The mainaxis of a structure, such as the acompound leaf or aninflorescence. Inbipinnate-leaved acacias therachis is the leafaxis extending from the lowermost to the uppermost pair ofpinnae; it is situateddistal to thepetiole and is terminated by the terminalseta.

Thedistal end of thepeduncle upon which the flowers are inserted (in fruiting specimens thereceptacle is normally marked with scars where flowers have fallen).

Curved downwards or outwards. Forphyllode shape sometimes a subjective distinction is made here between shallowly and stronglyrecurved, and betweenstraight and shallowlyrecurved. See alsoCurved andIncurved. The termrecurved is also used for leaflets where the margins arecurved backwards towards the underside or theleaflet. See alsoRevolute.

Bent backward or downward to some degree.

With a slightly wavy or weakly sinuate margin;undulate.

Bearing resin. Resin is a term applied to a group of oxydised hydrocarbons, solidified or hardened turpentine, and insoluble in water. Resin may or may not be sticky (i.e.viscid).

SeeReticulum.

A network formed byanastomosing veins (as, for example, occurs on phyllodes of species such asA. neurocarpa). SeeAnastomosing andNerve islands.

Directed backwards or downwards. Most commonly used here with for hairs that are bent towards the base ofbranchlets or phyllodes. CompareAntrorse.

With a shallow notch in arounded or blunt end.

With margins rolled backward towards the underside. See also Recurved.

Shaped like a rhomb (rhomb: anoblique-angled, equilateral parallelogram).

Approaching arhombic outline. SeeTrapeziform.

A mainlongitudinal vein in a structure, as inbranchlets.

Stiff and inflexible.

Withlongitudinal fissures or cracks. Used here with reference to bark.

Having a small, terminal beak.

Beak-shaped.

Forming a smooth arc, like an arc of a circle. LikeObtuse except arc forming a wider angle.

Imperfectly developed (as applied here this term refers to structures, commonly phyllodes or racemes, that are extremely short).

Wrinkled.

Minutely roughened.

Rough to the touch with short, hardrigid emergences or hairs.

A thin, flat, dry,membranous, non-green (commonly brown) structure.

Climbing.

Thin-textured and dry, not green.

Irregularly arranged. Used here mainly with reference to phyllodes which are borne singly at eachnode, seemingly without an ordered pattern down thestem, i.e. notWhorled orFasciculate.

Covered with small, bran-like scales. SeePruinose.

Half trowel-shaped. Widestaxis below the middle and having a ±straight lower margin and an angled upper margin. A 2-dimensional shape.

A segment of thecalyx. In Acacia sepals may be free (in which case they are often difficult to see) or united into a variously lobed cup.

Silky with softappressed hairs.

SeeSinuous.

Sitting upon the body that supports it, without a supporting stalk.

A bristle or stiff hair. Plural:Setae.

SeeSeta.

Bristly.

Woody plant, single- ormulti-stemmed, more than 0.3 m tall and usually less than 3 m tall,erect, spreading or domed. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish betweenShrub,Sub-shrub andTree.

S-shaped; doublycurved, like the letter S. Commonly applied to phyllodes. When the curves are very shallow a subjective distinctions must sometimes be made betweenSigmoid andCurved orStraight.

Unbranched. As used here the term refers to Inflorescences where the peduncles arise directly from within theaxil of the phyllodes (not inserted on a commonaxis, as occurs in racemes and panicles).

Curving in and out in a wavy or serpentine form. Same as Serpentenous.

Shaped like a spatula, with arounded blade above gradually tapering to the base.

SeeSpike.

An elongated (cylindrical) aggregation of flowers along areceptacle at thedistal end of thepeduncle. SeeHead.

Hard,rigid and sharp-pointed structures (which readily pierce the skin upon touch); normally applied here tobranchlets andstipules. Sometimes it is difficult to decide if the tips areSpinose orSub-spinose.

Twisted in acontinuous curve around a centralaxis.

With minute squamellae, i.e. small scales.

The male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of anAnther and aFilament.

Star-shaped, as in hairs with several to many branches radiating from the base.

The mainaxis of a plant.

Infertile. Used here mainly with reference to plants bearing neither flowers nor fruits.

A stalk supporting a structure, such as the stalk attaching anovary to thereceptacle in some flowers.

Borne on astipe.

Small appendages located on thebranchlets at the base of phyllodes or leaves. In Australian acaciasstipules are commonlyscarious, brown and very small, but in some species they arespinose;stipules are oftencaducous but rarely entirely wanting.

A pore or aperture in theepidermis, surrounded by two guard cells, which allows gaseous exchange.

Without a curve, bend or angle. Note.Sub-straight organs (including, for example, phyllodes that are overallstraight exceptcurved near the apex) are included within this definition.

Marked with fine parallel lines, as grooves or ridges.

Covered withappressed,rigid, bristle-likestraight hairs.

Minutelystrigose.

A prefix denoting slightly, somewhat, or almost.

Intermediate betweenAcute andObtuse.

Intermediate betweenAppressed andPatent (i.e. forming an angle of about 15-75 degrees with the surface).

Intermediate betweenDistant andCrowded.

Shallowlyfalcate (insub-falcate phyllodes the upper margin isconvex and the lower margin is shallowly concave).

Hairs very sparse, almost absent.

Intermediate in colour betweenglaucous and green. Usually applies tophyllode colour.

ApproachingMoniliform. A loosely defined term applied here to pods with margins moderately to prominently constricted between the seeds and surfaces slightly to prominently swollen over the seeds. If the constrictions and swellings are simultaneously prominent, the termMoniliform is used.

Sub-shiny.

Dwarfwoody plant, single- ormulti-stemmed, to 0.3 m tall anderect, spreading or domed (not to be confused withProstrate).

Tips hard,rigid and oftenacute (but not piercing the skin upon touch); normally applied here tobranchlets,stipules and phyllodes. Sometimes it is difficult to decide if the tips areSub-spinose orSpinose.

Sub-rounded in cross-section (i.e.terete but slightly flattened horizontally or vertically). SeeTerete andCompressed.

Awl-shaped.

Three or more phyllodes arranged in an incomplete, horizontal oroblique, ring round thestem at thenode. This somewhat loosely defined term accommodatesphyllode arrangements intermediate between regular whorls and clearlyscattered.

Withlongitudinal grooves or furrows.

Growing together in the same geographic area.

Slowly. Used here for pods that do not readily dehisce.

SeeTaxon.

A taxonomic entity of any rank, such as genus, species, variety, etc. Plural:Taxon.

Round in cross-section;cylindrical. SeeSub-terete.

Used here to denote the small point that terminates the primaryaxis of abipinnate leaf.

With a checkered pattern; usually refers to bark.

Seed coat.

With four angles, as inquadrangular phyllodes.

With parts arranged in sets of multiples of four, as in flowers having 4 sepals.

SeeAxillary Spine.

Densely covered with matted, short hairs.

Slightlytomentose.

Curved, bent or twisted in different directions.

At a right angle to thelongitudinalaxis of a structure, e.g. seeds with their longaxis at right angles to the longaxis of thepod.

An asymmetrically four-sided figure, as a trapezium, almost the same asrhomboid.

Largewoody plant, usually single-stemmed and more than 3 m tall. See alsoShrub.

Having three sides and three angles, with the widestaxis below the middle; length: width ratio 2: 1 to <12: 1. A 2-dimensional shape. As used here the term Triangular is broadly defined to also includeCuneate,Deltate,Linear-triangular,Obdeltate,Obtriangular andSemi-trullate.

A hair or hair-like outgrowth of theepidermis, lacking vascular tissue.

In three vertical rows. Used here with reference to phyllodes that arecontinuous anddecurrent and form narrow or broad wings on three sides of the branchlet.

Three-cleft.

Three-angled.

Three-edged (triangular in cross-section).

Terminating very abruptly at the apex or base, as if cut-off square.

The mainstem of atree below the branches.

Bearing tubercles (i.e. small wart-like structures on the surface).

Top-shaped.

Swollen or inflated.

To turn in another direction so that parts are situated in a spiral curve.

A blunt orrounded protuberance.

Possessing anumbo.

Hooked at the tip.

Wavy, but not so deeply or as pronounced assinuous.

Leaves possessing one pair ofpinnae.

One-sided (as in aninflorescence with the flowers all on one side of theaxis).

The opposite segments of dehiscent fruit which separate from one another at maturity. Used with reference to pods in Acacia.

Very densely covered with fine, short, soft,erect hairs.

SeeNervation.

SeeAdaxial.

A vein of secondary importance.

Shiny as though varnished.

Covered with minute wart-like elevations.

A ring-like arrangement (whorl) arising round thenode on thebranch; whorls are horizontal or less commonlyoblique. In Acacia usually refers to phyllodes.

A structure which is very reduced.

Covered with long, soft, weak hairs, the covering somewhatdense.

Sticky. Same asGlutinous.

SeeVerticillate.

A thin, flat margin bordering a structure.

Approaching the texture of wood.