XVI International Botanical Congess
The Acacia acuminata complex comprises three described species and a number of informal variants from southwest Western Australia. Acacia oldfieldii and the informal variants have restricted geographic distributions in the region of overlap between the two likely progenitors, A. acuminata and A. burkittii. Allozyme divergence was investigated in 25 populations covering both the geographic and taxonomic range of the complex. The allelic patterns resolved have clarified the taxonomic and genetic relationships between the taxa, clearly resolving A. oldfieldii as a distinct entity. Geographical patterns of variation were observed between the other taxa. This information has important implications for plantation research as members of the A. acuminata complex are known to be effective hosts for the economically important root parasite, Santalum spicatum (Sandalwood).