
Fern Acacia
Acacia angustissima (P. Miller)
K. E. O. Kuntze var. hirta
(Torrey & Gray) Robins
Fabaceae
On first glance this plant may resemble
Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis).
However, if you take a closer look you will find that
this plant lacks glands on the petiole. Another interesting
characterisitic is that the leaves of Fern Acacia are
sensitive, folding up at night, when it rains or when
touched (as do some other members of the family Fabaceae,
especially plants of the genus Mimosa).
I have never grown this plant myself,
but all my research says that this plant is very hardy.
It slowly spreads by woody rhizomes to form colonies.
Its delicate foliage is very attractive in a wildflower
or xeriscape garden.
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Behind the Name :
There are about 600 species in the
genus Acacia. They are found throughout warmer
parts of the world.
Also commonly known as Prairie Acacia
and White-Ball Acacia.
There are three varieties of Acacia
angustissima:
-
Acacia angustissima
(P. Miller) K. E. O. Kuntze var. chisosiana
D. Isely
-
Acacia angustissima
(P. Miller) K. E. O. Kuntze var. hirta
(T. Nuttall) B. Robinson
syn = Acacia hirta J. Torrey & A. Gray
syn = Acaciella hirta (J. Torrey &
A. Gray) N.L. Britton & J.N. Rose
-
Acacia angustissima
(P. Miller) K. E. O. Kuntze var. texensis
syn = Acacia texensis J. Torrey & A.
Gray
syn = Acaciella texensis (J. Torrey &
A. Gray) N.L. Britton & J.N. Rose
Definitions:
- Acacia -
-
From the Greek akis (sharp
point; thorny); Refers to the typical habit of
most species in the genus Acacia.
- angustissima -
-
From angust (drawn together;
narrow) and issim (most; to the greatest degree);
Refers to the "narrowest" leaves
- hirta -
-
From Latin, meaning hairy
- chisosiana -
-
From chisos (Chisos Mountains)
and ana (suffix that means connection or possession);
Coming from the Chisos Mountains which are contained
completely within Big Bend National Park, Texas,
US.
- texensis -
-
From tex (Texas) and -ensis
(suffix meaning place of origin); from Texas
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Tags :
native Texas wildflower, Texas native
wildflower, Texas native plant, perennial, herb, full
sun, partial shade, partially evergreen, subshrub, shrub,
white flowers, cream flowers, Spring flowers, Summer
flowers, Fall flowers, attractive foliage, propagate
by seed, garden worthy, livestock food, prairies, fields,
pastures, meadows, woodland openings, roadsides, grasslands,
Leguminosae, Pea family, Bean family, Acacia angustissima
var. hirta
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