[4] The species was first formally described by the botanist Allan Cunningham in 1832 as part of George Dons work A General History of Dichlamydeous Plants.

It was reclassified as Racosperma prominens by Leslie Pedley in 2003 then transferred back to genus Acacia in 2006.

[5] The species epithet refers to the prominent exerted gland on the margin of the phyllode, about 5 to 20 mm (0.20 to 0.79 in) above the pulvinus.

It is often situated in damp and sheltered areas growing in loamy and clay soils along the margins of rainforest or as a part of wet sclerophyll forest communities.

[4] It is naturalised to parts of central Victoria including the goldfields, greater Grampians, Gippsland Plain and northern inland slopes.