Acacia pycnantha

species of plant

Acacia pycnantha, the golden wattle, is a tree. It is the national plant of Australia. The tree is in the family Fabaceae, and is native to southeastern Australia.

Golden wattle
Closeup of pendulous green phyllodes (leaves) and yellow globular flower heads
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. pycnantha
Binomial name
Acacia pycnantha
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms
Species synonymy
  • Acacia falcinella Meisn.
  • Acacia petiolaris Lehm.
  • Acacia pycnantha var. petiolaris H.Vilm.
  • Acacia pycnantha Benth. var. pycnantha
  • Acacia westonii Maiden
  • Racosperma pycnanthum (Benth.) Pedley

The plant grows to 8 m (26 ft) and has flattened leaf stalks (called phyllodes) instead of true leaves. The phyllodes are sickle-shaped, between 9 and 15 cm (3+12 and 6 in) long, and 1–3.5 cm (121+12 in) wide.

The fragrant, golden flowers appear in late winter and spring, and then there are long seed pods. Plants are cross-pollinated by several species of honeyeater and thornbill. When birds visit nectaries, the phyllodes brush against flowers. This transfers pollen between them.

The golden wattle is an understorey plant in eucalyptus forests. It is found from southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, through Victoria and into southeastern South Australia.