A baker’s dozen of new wattles highlights significant Acacia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) diversity and endemism in the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia
MASLIN, B.R., BARRETT, M.D. AND BARRETT, R.L.
Thirteen new species of Acacia Mill. from the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia are described. These species are accommodated into three sections of the genus. Acacia sect. Juliflorae (Benth.) Maiden & Betche: A. anastomosa Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. camptocarpa Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. cyclocarpa Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. diastemata Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. phacelia Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett and A. synantha Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett. Acacia sect. Plurinerves (Benth.) Maiden & Betche: A. anserina Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. obtriangularis Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. orthotropica Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett and A. perpusilla Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett. Acacia sect. Lycopodiifoliae Pedley: A. claviseta Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett, A. dimorpha Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett and A. prolata Maslin, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett. Notes are provided on A. gracillima Tindale (Acacia sect. Juliflorae) which provisionally includes a poorly known, distinctive entity in need of further taxonomic scrutiny. Except for A. claviseta, which extends to the Northern Territory, the new species are endemic to the Kimberley region. Eleven of the new species (all except A. camptocarpa and A. claviseta) are endemic to the high-rainfall area of the north-west Kimberley, highlighting significant levels of plant endemism in this region. A number of these species are geographically restricted (three are known only from the type) and all except A. prolata are treated as Priority taxa under the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora. Most of the new species are killed by fire and their distributions are restricted to rocky, presumably naturally fire-limiting sites.
