Acacia whibleyana

Acacia whibleyana (common name - Whibley wattle, Whibley's wattle) is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia, section Plurinerves. It is native to South Australia.

Description
The perennial shrub typically grows to a height of 1 to 2.5 m with a width of up to around 4 m and has a dense, spreading habit with smooth branchlets that have prominent raised scarring from the phyllodes that have detached. Like most species of Acacia it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. It blooms between August and October producing simple inflorescences that are grouped in pairs in the axils and have spherical flower-heads with a diameter of 2.5 to 5 mm containing 18 to 19 golden coloured flowers..

Distribution and habitat
It is found on limestone and loam, sometimes near salt swamps, but only in the near-coastal areas south of Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

Taxonomy and naming
It was first described by Richard Sumner Cowan and Bruce Maslin in 1995. The species epithet, whibleyana, honours David J.E. Whibley who contributed considerably to the knowledge of South Australian wattles.

Conservation status
It is listed as "Endangered" under the federal EPBC Act.