Entry for Acacia luederitzii var. retinens Sim J. Ross & Brenan [family LEGUMINOSAE]
Entry From
FZ, Vol 3, Part 1, (1970) Author: J.P.M. Brenan
Names
Acacia luederitzii var. retinens Sim J. Ross & Brenan [family LEGUMINOSAE], in Kew Bull. 21: 72 (1967). Type: Mozambique, “Umbeluzi and Lebombo”, Sim 6391 (not found).
Acacia retinens Sim [family LEGUMINOSAE], in For. Fl. Port. E. Afr.: 157, t. 40 fig. A (1909). — J. Ross in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 31: 219 (1965). Type as above.
Acacia gillettiae Burtt Davy [family LEGUMINOSAE], F.P.F.T. 2: xvii, 343 (1932). — O. B. Mill., B.C.L.: 18 (1948); in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 18: 21 (1952). Syntypes from the Transvaal.
Notes
Although the distinction between the two varieties rests mainly on the enlarged spines (which may not always be present), there are other inconstant differential tendencies. Var. luederitzii seems often to be rather taller than var. retinens, 4?5-12 m. as against often only 1-4?5 m. Var. luederitzii has usually 5-8 pairs of pinnae per leaf, while the number in var. retinens is more variable both above and below these figures. The pods in var. luederitzii are 10-19 mm. wide, while those of var. retinens do not seem to exceed 15 mm. The two varieties are sharply separated geographically.The name Acacia reficiens Wawra (1859) has sometimes been used to cover A. luederitzii; but true A. reficiens appears worth maintaining as a distinct species separated by ist puberulous or pulverulent indumentum and few pairs of leaflets (up to 11(13) pairs per pinna), glabrous or almost so on the margins. It probably also differs in habit. It is not known to occur in our area although it is found from the Sudan to Kenya and in Angola.
