Practical
Plants

Acacia longifolia

Sidney Golden Wattle

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Acacia genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Acacia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
9 m
Spread
6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers - cooked[5]. Rich in pollen, they are often used in fritters. The flowers have a violet-like fragrance[17]. Seed - roasted[14][19][21][2]. Starchy[11]. Rather small and fiddly to gather[K]. Acacia seeds are highly nutritious and contain approx 26% protein, 26% available carbohydrate, 32% fibre and 9% fat[18]. The fat content is higher than most legumes with the aril providing the bulk of fatty acids present[18]. These fatty acids are largely unsaturated which is a distinct health advantage although it presents storage problems as such fats readily oxidise[18]. The mean total carbohydrate content of 55.8 + 13.7% is lower than that of lentils, but higher than that of soybeans while the mean fibre content of 32.3 + 14.3% is higher than that of other legumes such as lentils with a level of 11.7%[18]. The energy content is high in all species tested, averaging 1480+270 kJ per 100g[18]. Wattle seeds are low glycaemic index foods. The starch is digested and absorbed very slowly, producing a small, but sustained rise in blood glucose and so delaying the onset of exhaustion in prolonged exercise[18]. Seedpods - roasted[11]. The pods are up to 10cm long[16].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Seedpod

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[10]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[10]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[15]. It is used on sandy soils and steep banks[15]. Trees are planted as a screen in Australia[7]. This species is often grown as a rootstock for grafting lime-intolerant members of the genus[3]. Wood - pale, tough[6].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Hedge

Rootstock

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Southern Australia, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Sandy soils mainly by the coast[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse[1]. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in a warm greenhouse in March. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c[4]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame[22]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[22].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sandy loam and a very sunny position.[1][12]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is not excessively limey[3]. This species is fairly lime-tolerant[3][15]. Succeeds in a hot dry position[8] and in poor soils[13]. A fairly wind resistant tree, growing well in maritime areas[20][8][12]. Tolerates some salt in the soil[15]. Hardy to about -10°c for short periods[15], it can be grown outdoors in many of the milder areas of the country though, even in Cornwall, it is liable to be cut back to the ground in excessively cold winters[3]. It can resprout from the base[3]. Tasmanian provenances are the hardiest forms in British gardens[12]. Dislikes root disturbance[22]. A very ornamental plant[1]. The flowers are scented of violets[17]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

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  5. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

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  6. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

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  7. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

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  8. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

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  10. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

  11. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  12. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  14. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  15. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  16. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

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  17. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  18. Lister. P. Wattleseed www.uws.edu.au/vip/listerp/wattle.htm

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  20. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

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  21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  22. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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