Acacia sophorae
Acacia sophorae, commonly known as coastal wattle or coast wattle, is a wattle found in coastal and subcoastal south-eastern Australia from the Eyre Peninsula to southern Queensland.[2][3] It is sometimes considered a subspecies of sallow wattle (Acacia longifolia).[4] The specific epithet refers to its similarity to plants in the genus Sophora.
Acacia sophorae | |
---|---|
Fruit | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
Genus: | Acacia |
Species: | A. sophorae |
Binomial name | |
Acacia sophorae | |
Occurrence data from AVH | |
Synonyms | |
|
Description
In exposed situations it is a large, prostrate or decumbent shrub, with its trunk and lower branches usually growing along the ground, reaching up to 3 m in height and spreading to 4 m or more horizontally. The oval phyllodes are 50–100 mm long with prominent longitudinal veins. The bright yellow flowers occur as elongated spikes up to 50 mm long in the phyllode axils. Flowering occurs mainly in late winter and spring. It occurs on primary dunes, in coastal heath, open forest and alluvial flats. It is used for dune stabilisation on beaches where it will tolerate sea spray and sand blast, providing protection for less hardy plants.[2][5][6][7]
References
- Brown, R. in Aiton, W.T. (1813) Hortus Kewensis Edn. 2, 5: 462
- "Acacia sophorae". Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- "Acacia sophorae (Labill.) R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "Acacia sophorae' (Labill.) R.Br". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Flora of Victoria. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- Longmore, Sue; Smithyman, Steve; Crawley, Matt (2010). Coastal Plants of the Bellarine Peninsula. Bellarine Catchment Network.
- "Coastal Wattle Acacia sophorae" (PDF). Coastal sand dunes – their vegetation and management. Leaflet No.IV-10. Department of Environment, Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- "Acacia sophorae". Australian Native Plants Society. August 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2012.