About Acacia pentadenia Lindl.
Acacia pentadenia Lindl. is a slender, willowy shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 2 to 5 metres (7 to 16 ft). It has a slender erect growth habit that forms a dense crown of evergreen foliage. Its branchlets are usually glabrous and ribbed. It has large, feather-like phyllodes composed of 2 to 5 pairs of pinnae, with the larger pinnae measuring 25 to 80 millimetres (1.0 to 3.1 in) in length. Each pinna is made up of 12 to 30 pairs of glabrous green pinnules, which are only 3 to 6 mm (0.118 to 0.236 in) long and 1 to 2.5 mm (0.039 to 0.098 in) wide. This species blooms from July to December, producing cream-yellow flowers. The flowers are arranged in inflorescences that usually hold 15 to 25 flowers each. After blooming, it forms seed pods around 60 mm (2.4 in) long and 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) wide, which contain oblong seeds. Due to its offensive odour, the plant is sometimes commonly called cat bush. This species is native to the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia. It is commonly found from around Nannup southeast to around Denmark, with an additional population located near Albany. Acacia pentadenia prefers sandy or loamy soils, and is usually an understorey plant in karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forests or mixed karri-marri (Corymbia calophylla) forests, where it can form dense stands. Other plant species associated with it include Agonis flexuosa, Allocasuarina decussata, Chorilaena quercifolia, and a range of wild flowers. Karri forests are host to around 2000 plant taxa. Seeds of Acacia pentadenia are commercially available. This shrub is best suited to temperate climates. It grows well in sheltered, semi-shaded areas and in medium to heavy soils. It is sensitive to both drought and frost.
