About Acacia leptostachya Benth.
Scientific name: Acacia leptostachya Benth.
Description: This species typically grows as a shrub or tree reaching a maximum height of 0.5 to 6 m (1 ft 8 in to 19 ft 8 in). It has hairy, ribbed branchlets and resinous young shoots. Like most Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. The evergreen phyllodes are covered in silvery hairs, have a narrowly elliptic to lanceolate shape, and may be straight or shallowly curved. The phyllodes measure 4 to 9 cm (1.6 to 3.5 in) in length and 2 to 12 mm (0.079 to 0.472 in) in width, and contain many fine, rather closely packed veins, with two or three veins that are more prominent. Simple inflorescences grow in pairs on racemes. The cylindrical flower-spikes are 2 to 4 cm (0.79 to 1.57 in) long and are sub-densely packed with golden flowers. After flowering, firmly chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, glabrous linear seed pods form. The pods are raised over the seeds, reaching a maximum length of around 6 cm (2.4 in) and a width of 2 to 9 mm (0.079 to 0.354 in). The shiny brown seeds are oblong shaped, measure 2.7 to 4 mm (0.11 to 0.16 in) in length, and have a small aril.
Distribution: This species is endemic to central-eastern Cape York Peninsula. Its range extends from around Coen in the north, through coastal and inland areas, to around Maryborough and south of Charleville in the south. It grows in a variety of habitats, in deep sandy or skeletal soils overlying granite or sandstone bedrock, as a member of Eucalyptus woodland communities or Triodia grasslands.
Cultivation: This shrub or tree grows well in a full sun position in dry, well-drained soils. It can be propagated from seed after the seeds are scarified or treated with boiling water.
