Acacia oxycedrus

{{Short description|Species of plant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Speciesbox |name=Spike wattle |image =Acacia oxycedrus.jpg |image_caption = ''Acacia oxycedrus'', Bunyip State Park, Victoria |genus = Acacia |species =oxycedrus |authority =Sieber ex DC.<ref name=APNI>{{cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Acacia+oxycedrus |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127154338/http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Acacia+oxycedrus |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2012 |title=''Acacia oxycedrus'' |access-date=2009-08-29 |work=Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database |publisher=Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra }}</ref> |range_map = Acacia oxycedrusDistMap664.png |range_map_caption = Occurrence data from AVH }}

'''''Acacia oxycedrus''''', commonly known as '''spike wattle''',<ref name=NSW/> is an erect or spreading shrub which is endemic to Australia.<ref name=NSW>{{cite web |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Acacia~oxycedrus |title=''Acacia oxycedrus'' |access-date=2009-08-30 |author=|work= PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia}}</ref>

==Description== The prickly shrub grows to a height of {{cvt|1|to|3|m}} and has a width of around {{cvt|2|m}}with a dense habit.<ref name=anbg>{{cite web|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/acacia/species/A-oxycedrus.html|title=''Acacia oxycedrus'' Spike wattle|access-date=31 March 2020|work=Wattles - Genus Acacia|publisher=Australian National Botanic Gardens}}</ref> Like most species of ''Acacia'' it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. The dark green, rigid and sharp-pointed phyllodes have three or four prominent longitudinal veins. The bright yellow to pale yellow cylindrical flowerheads appear in groups of one to three in the axils of the phyllodes from July to October, followed by straight or slightly curved seed pods which are 4 to {{cvt|10|cm}} long and {{cvt|3|to|6|mm}} wide.<ref name=NSW/>

==Distribution== The species occurs on sandy soil in dry sclerophyll forest or heath in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.<ref name=NSW/>

==Cultivation== The shrub is available commercially but can be propagated by seed scarification or using boiling water. It grows well in open sun and in a well drained position in most soil types. It is frost hardy and useful for road batters or as a screen or hedge plant that will form an impenetrable barrier.<ref name=anbg/>

==See also== * List of ''Acacia'' species

<gallery heights="150px" mode=packed-hover style="margin-top:3em;"> Acacia oxycedrus IMG 5249.jpg | Acacia oxycedrus DSC 9772.jpg | Acacia oxycedrus IMG 5254.jpg |<small>Ku-ring-gai Chase NP</small> </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

oxycedrus Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Flora of South Australia Category:Flora of Victoria (state) Category:Fabales of Australia