Acacia victoriae

Acacia victoriae, also known as the Bramble Wattle, is a species of Acacia native to Australia. It is a shrub or small tree that grows up to 10 meters tall. The plant is named after Queen Victoria, the queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901.

Description

Acacia victoriae has a dense, spreading habit with a rounded or flat top. The bark is smooth and grey, and the branchlets are angled towards the apices. The leaves are bipinnate, with 4 to 13 pairs of pinnae, each with 10 to 40 pairs of pinnules. The flowers are bright yellow, and are arranged in spherical clusters in the leaf axils. The fruit is a straight or slightly curved pod, containing several hard, dark brown seeds.

Distribution and habitat

Acacia victoriae is found throughout most of Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. It grows in a variety of habitats, including woodland, grassland, and desert, and is often found on sandy or rocky soils.

Uses

The seeds of Acacia victoriae are edible and were traditionally used as a food source by Indigenous Australians. They can be ground into a flour and used to make bread or cakes. The plant is also used for land rehabilitation and soil stabilization, and is a popular species for use in agroforestry.

Cultivation

Acacia victoriae is a hardy plant that can tolerate a range of conditions, including drought and frost. It prefers well-drained soil and a sunny position. The plant can be propagated from seed, which should be pre-treated with boiling water or scarified before sowing to improve germination rates.

Conservation status

Acacia victoriae is not considered to be at risk in the wild.