Acacia cyperophylla

Creekline miniritchie
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. cyperophylla
Binomial name
Acacia cyperophylla F.Muell. ex Benth.

Acacia cyperophylla, commonly known as creekline miniritchie or red mulga, is a tree in the family Fabaceae. Endemic to Western Australia, it on the banks of rivers and creeks on the semi-arid plains east of Carnarvon.

Creekline miniritchie grows to a height of about seven metres. It usually has just one or two main trunks. Like most Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. These are rigid, round in cross-section with a diameter of about two millimetres, between ten and fifteen centimetres long, and curved. The flowers are yellow, and held in cylindrical clusters about two centimetres long. The pods are broad and flat, about eight centimetres long and seven millimetres wide.

Creekline miniritchie is most readily identified by its distinctive "minni ritchi" bark, which constantly peels off in small curling flakes, making the tree look like it has a coat of curly hair. On creekline miniritchie, this is an orange-brown colour.

There are two varieties, Port Hedland, all of which are under threat. It has been classified "Priority 1" under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act, and is under consideration for declaration as "rare flora".

References

• "Acacia cyperophylla". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=41807. 
• "Acacia cyperophylla". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/3283. 
• Mitchell, A. A. and Wilcox, D. G. (1994). Arid Shrubland Plants of Western Australia, Second and Enlarged Edition. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia. ISBN 1-875560-22-X.