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Australian Native Plants

Name of early flowering wattle

20 years ago

Hi,

As I was driving around Gippsland over the last couple of weeks, I have noticed that in quite a small area around the South Traralgon Flora & Fauna park, there is a small wattle currently out in bloom.

It seems to be only in this area and I was wondering if anyone knew its' name. It grows to a very small tree or bush..haven't seen one over 2 meters... and has jacaranda type leaves. It is looking very beautiful sharing the lower growth with green bracken in between the eucalpts and blackwood.

Even if I can't identify this wattle, I'm thinking that seed collection would be the way to go to try and get some plants for my land.

Thanks

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Comments (8)

justcorreas
20 years ago
Hi Neely - Very difficult species to identify, but you may find a photo of it here ---->
http://www.anbg.gov.au/images/photo_cd/index.html

Remember to look under Mimosaceae on left of page then look for Acacia.
eg dealbata. Then click on name to get photo. It may very well be that the plants you saw are stunted or immature.
neely
Original Author
20 years ago
Many thanks for the web address justcorreas. I'm checking through the photos... no luck so far but then I've only done the acacia "a's".
This site will prove very useful, been wishing there was something like this, as had only limited knowledge about natives before we bought our place in the country 6 months ago. Thanks again.
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lomatia
20 years ago
A. botrycephala (is it now called A. terminalis?) flowers March to July, is bipinnate and is found in Gippsland although not sure if it's found that far west. Of course might just be a shire planting from anywhere!!! Provenance didn't mean anything a few years ago.
roysta
20 years ago
Neely
I agree with Lomatia, my guess is also A. terminalis, it has very Jacaranda type leaves.

Cheers
Roy
neely
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks Roy & lomatia, I looked up A. terminalis on the Aust Plant Image Index website that justcorreas suggested above and by the picture of the flowers and leaves it looks like you two are on the button. The somewhat dark green of the leaves contributes as well as their form and the flowers.

I'll check out the Kuranga catalogue Mt Evelyn Vic and see if they have it otherwise I guess as I mentioned above, it will be seed collection.

I know you can't collect seed from National Parks, but there are lots of the bushes just outside the Flora park.

Thanks for all the help identifying this wattle
justcorreas
20 years ago
I'm glad you found a name for your Acacia. Its common name is 'Sunshine Wattle' and grows to 3m x 2m. Hardy plant that flowers during the off season.

May be worth trying some of the local Native Nurseries near you as they may have it. You could try Strezlecki Plant Farm out of Mirboo North if not too far away, Ian may have it there. Tel: (03) 5668 7209
neely
Original Author
20 years ago
Once again, thank you justcorreas for the information.

I have bought plants from the local Traralgon nurseries and while they have a few natives you couldn't really say they specialise in that area. However to save the fairly long drive, now I know the name, I thought I might see if one of them could order it in for me.
nathanhurst
20 years ago
neely, I would be quite surprised if Ian at Strezlecki Plant Farm doesn't have that wattle. There is also a fairly good native nursery in Druin.

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