Golden wattle is one of the interesting Acacias in which the normally compound pinnate leaves have petioles (or leaf-stalks) that become flattened and serve the purpose of leaves. These are called phyllodes, and in the lower right-hand section of the third photograph can be seen a compound pinnate leaf with a petiole that is just beginning to flatten. The leaflets are often suppressed and thus the tree either appears to have two totally dissimilar kinds of leaves, or to have just simple, linear-laneolate or obovate leaves 2"-6" long with 2-3 prominent longitudinal veins. The twigs are angled, minutely hairy or glabrous when young, and the stems are unarmed. The inflorescence is an axillary spike of bright yellow flowers. The fruit is ± straight and cylindric, brown, narrowed between the seeds, and ending in a curved tip. This species is uncommon and is usually seen as an escape in sandy coastal soils at low elevations, blooming in May. It is a native of eastern Australia.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Acacia 2) longifolia.
Pronunciation: a-KAY-see-a lon-ji-FO-lee-a.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.