Association of Societies for Growing Australian STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER

Group Leader Newsletter Editor Esther Brueggemeier Bill Aitchison 28 Staton Cr, Westlake, Vic 3337 13 Conos Court, Donvale, Vic 3111 Phone 0411 148874 Phone (03) 98723583 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

No. 97 June 2007 ISSN 1035-4638

  From The Leader Contents Page Dear Members, First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone for being patient and understanding since we didn't know From the leader 1 whether the Acacia Study Group was going to go into recession or not. But after much discussion, back and forth, Feature - Acacia howittii 3 with Bill Aitchison and Sue Guymer and their much needed help and support, I finally agreed to take on this new role as and Bees 3 leader of the Acacia Study Group.

Acacia derwentiana 4 I was told that a bit of “background information” of myself would be a good start, so I will try to do that now . . . Acacias and fungi 5 I was born and raised in Australia. Mt. Isa was my home Acacias and Craft 6 town where the burning red earth left an incredibly lasting impression on me. Outdoors and barefoot of course was the The Smell of Acacia Roots 6 life . . . Fast forward 17 years - For quite a while I worked in a Nursery in Lara, Vic. Of course, I didn't realise at the More smells – Acacia seeds 7 time, how valuable this would later become, since my goals were different then. At 19 - as adventurous young people Letter to the Editor 7 do - I left the country to spend time in Europe and discover many things. Strangely enough, I fell in love, got married Some Wattles for the Garden 7 and had two kids. But, I became extremely homesick. (Even though I had a wonderful family there and many friends, I couldn't quite put my finger on what I was really Some Web References 8 missing.)

Some Administrative Matters 8 12 long years later we finally moved to Australia - bought a house and we start to think about the garden. I knew for List of Species Propagated for sure that the only plants going in MY garden were to be acacia2006 9 native ones!!! So off we went to the nursery where I found some Acacia longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle) in 6" pots that were about 70cm high. The label said "Fast Growing". OK . . . I put 3 of them in the car and then all of a sudden I am overwhelmed by this incredible smell!!! The knot comes undone as I realise, THIS is what I have missed for so long and the Australian landscapes and smells all Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 1 come flooding back to me! (There will be more on wattles I have hedges of A. floribunda (15 in a row) and A. howittii and their smells in this newsletter later) (20) and many beautiful specimens, some also look excellent as standards, which I am focusing on a little more at the moment. As the majority are drought hardy, the issues of water and wattles take on new meaning. All of my established plants do not get watered at all and my garden has never looked greener! There are now 140 odd Acacias growing in all shapes and sizes and of these there are about 60 different varieties. All this is on an average urban sized garden!

These are just some of the aspects that I will be featuring in the newsletters. I certainly hope that everyone will continue to be involved in this Study Group and we will try to answer some of the questions from members that were still open. If I seem to have missed something, please don't hesitate to drop me a line either per email or mobile as above and I will try to get on to it straight away.

As most of you would already know we have an extensive Seed Bank that, many thanks to our former leader, Thais Eisen, is in immaculate condition. Please keep in mind, that I will try to send seed that is true to type but because Acacias readily hybridise, there may be some surprises. If this is the case, please let me know as soon as possible as these are of great interest in the horticultural world and can be used to our advantage in promoting Acacias.

At this point I would especially like to thank Thais Eisen, for all the hard work that she has put into the Study Group over the last 5 years (May 2001 - 2006). She has played a major role in collecting and collating information and I plant, water and watch. My husband, being a fanatic with pictures for the wonderful Photo Library that we now have statistics, sets up a growing chart and we measure them on CD. Also her wealth of knowledge in relation to insects every week. Incredibly, 3 months later they have reached and their relationship with Acacias is absolutely amazing the top of our boundary fence. 3 MONTHS!!! This and I'm sure we will still receive interesting articles and incredible growth prompted me to do more research and that pictures from her in the future. was the beginning of my extreme passion for wattles. I discover that there are hundreds of different varieties, but so The setup of these newsletters will be a little different but many were hard to get at nurseries. Finally, I find a nursery we still want plenty of input from our members - all your (Suntuff Natives - David and Barbara Pye at Bullengarook, questions, ideas, pictures, viewpoints, achievements, Vic) that had more than your average natives and where I disasters, whatever you have on your mind - is important to learn more about the APS. us and we would like to hear from you.

In early 2004, I joined the APS - Bacchus Marsh/Melton Bill Aitchison will be our editor and he will be taking care group. In the meantime I have become heavily involved in of a lot of that computer stuff (very much to my relief - and my own Wattle Nursery work - growing many varieties of if there's any spelling mistakes, it's his fault!). We will have wattles, especially the hard to get ones and I also promote a 'Feature Plant' for each newsletter. That is, plants that the incredible cultivars that are on the market now - have excellent horticultural qualities and that are especially including A. cognata 'Limelight', 'Bower Beauty', 'Green useful in the small home garden but also for landscaping en Mist', 'Copper Tips', A. howittii 'Canberry Honey Bun' etc. I masse. We will also be looking at the many, many uses of also do landscaping jobs where wattles are the main feature wattle in every conceivable way. One particular favourite of course. of mine is the use of wattles in Floral Art. These will all be in future issues of the Acacia Study Group Newsletters, so This is of particular interest to me as I firmly believe that stay tuned and don't forget to pay membership fees and with you can design a garden any style (formal, contemporary, everyone's help we should have a great year and I'm also cottage etc) using only natives and a large part of Acacias. looking forward to meeting some of you down the track . . . My own garden is now a 'Display Garden' where I feature exactly this. (Visitors welcome, please make appointment) Esther Brueggemeier, Wild about Wattle

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 2 Feature Plant – Due to much pruning, flowering was scarce. Generally though, this species flowers profusely with perfumed, soft Acacia howittii lemon yellow flower-heads in Spring. A dwarf form has also been introduced into cultivation, the 'Canberry Honey Acacia howittii is commonly known as Howitt's Wattle Bun' (see photo below). This one is ideal for small hedges (named in honour of Dr Alfred William Howitt (1830-1908) and to block out those pesky weeds you could also use a an English explorer and botanist) or Sticky Wattle due to lush groundcover, the prostrate version – which is the most the nature of its fairly sticky phyllodes. These dark green recent introduction of this plant. phyllodes have a spicy aroma.

This species is a beautiful, very hardy, fast-growing plant and grows well in a wide range of soils. Surprisingly, it is on the rare list although in its natural habitat (a small distance of 20km in the southern Gippsland hills, Victoria) it is not thought to be under any threat.

Personally, this is one of my favourites since it is so versatile in the garden. It can be used as a glorious dense hedge, a specimen tree or even a beautiful pendulous standard! It responds extremely well to hard pruning.

My own experience with this hedge (as seen in the following photo) was very satisfying.

Acacia howittii is also frost tolerant although some protection may be beneficial for young plants in a newly established garden. The only pests noticed have been spittle bugs but these do not require control.

Most good retail nurseries stock these plants but don't be tempted to buy advanced plants as they are usually slow to establish. Tubes or at the most 6" pots have a much faster growth rate and it’s more fun to literally watch them grow. Of course, you can order some seed from the seed bank and do it yourself too.

Acacias and Bees

Bob Luttrell from Queensland has raised a question regarding acacias and bees. He writes as follows and has also provided the photo:

I am a member of the Samford, QLD branch of SGAP. I have a question about Acacia bancrofti which is I understand a CQ species, but I have planted it here in SEQ. My interest is that the stingless bees (Trigona carbonaria) are very interested in a secretion from the gland on the (phyllode) stem which seems enlarged I planted 20 tubes at 1m spacings. With meticulous, regular perhaps to cope with the gland. The output is quite pruning right from the start my hedge was a thick, strong profuse, and is also of interest to wasps and of course wall of 2.5m only 2 years later! Once the ideal height is ants. I have 30 stingless bee colonies and have a deep reached pruning becomes much easier. I cut a good metre interest in photography. off the top 1-2 times per year.

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 3 stock their cells). We usually think of these resources as being packaged together in the flower, but there is no need for this to be true. I like this theory, and it would be very useful to know whether the same solitary bees observed by your Enquirer also visit the flowers for pollen.

As long as ants and bees don't get in each other's way, the extrafloral nectaries could fulfil both functions.

If he/she is of an enquiring mind, and I'm guessing yes, it would be really interesting for your enquirer to spend a day watching the Acacia bancrofti, and recording when the bees (and any other insects) (a) collect nectar, and I attach a photo of what I am observing. I aim to get (b) collect pollen. I would sit and watch a few nectaries better but this photo shows the bee at the gland opening. (the same set all day) for maybe 10 minutes every hour, More commonly they just have to lick up the secretion and count the number of bees visiting the nectaries. And, from the stem or in the axil joining the stem to the for another 10 minutes each hour, count the bee visits to branch. I am wondering just what the nature of the a constant set of flower heads. Then you can see if the secretion is, it does seem to be sweet so I assume it is not bee colony is harvesting the two resources at the same or resin but it is not easy to get enough material to evaluate different times of day, and also get a feeling for when the the taste. nectar is being secreted during the day. American and A melipoponary enthusiast, and SGAP member African acacias that secrete nectar to pay ant guards Bob Luttrell tend to have a morning nectar secretion peak, which the ants track really accurately. I know of no other data on Bob has raised an interesting question as in fact the purpose possible bee exploitation of distinct nectaries and pollen of bees’ visitation is not fully understood. We referred resources. Bob’s question to Dr Graham Stone, Senior Lecturer in Animal Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the Alternatively, your correspondent could decide to keep University of Edinburgh, who is a leading authority on this taking excellent photos, and just enjoy this fine bit of subject. Dr Stone replied as follows: natural history over a glass of fine wine (much as the bee is doing). Dear Bill, All best, Thanks for passing the letter and excellent photo on to Graham me. Your interpretation of our paper is correct! We know that bees do visit these glands, and they secrete nectar - ie a sucrose-rich solution that may well contain Acacia derwentiana other constituents such as amino acids. The general belief is that these secretions are intended to recruit ants Acacia derwentiana is a new species from Tasmania to guard the plant against attack by herbivores, rather described by Alan Gray in 2005 (Muelleria 21: 107-110). It than to attract pollinators. evidence in support of this is a small to medium shrub 1-3 metres high, with pale view is the fact that the nectaries are not in among the yellow to almost lemon yellow flowers held in loose flowers, and bees are perfectly able to visit the leaf cylindrical spikes from October to December. nectaries without contacting the flowers. We asked Alan whether the species has been introduced into I think bee visitation to these nectaries could be cultivation. He advises that it has been propagated, chiefly interpreted in 2 ways. from cuttings as it seems to be a poor seed setter. This has been done by Will Fletcher of Plants of Tasmania nursery. First, the bees are robbers, exploiting unprotected Alan advises that well before he described it Will Fletcher nectar not intended for them. If this is true we expect the was calling it Acacia 'Derwent Cascade', either because it glands to be visited primarily by ants. grew on the bank of the River Derwent near some small cascades or because of its weeping habit 'cascading' – he is Second, that the nectar IS meant to attract bees, not certain. Alan has also seen a large plant in a garden fulfilling their sugar and water needs so that they can at Cygnet - it looked really ornamental but he has no idea also visit the flowers for pollen. Australian acacias don't from whence it came! produce floral nectar, and the phyllode nectaries could be an alternative way of meeting the nectar needs of pollinating bees (that need both pollen and nectar to

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 4 The following photograph of Acacia derwentiana is by mm with a sharp demarcation (like a match) into a lighter courtesy of the Tasmanian Herbarium. colour stem for another 20 mm. above ground.

Acacias and Fungi

On a recent bush walk that Esther participated in, one particular point of interest was a fungi, Cordyceps gunnii, that has a particular relationship with acacias. This prompted us to ask Geoff Lay if he would write a note for our newsletter on the relationships that exist between acacias and fungi.

Geoff is a long time member of the Australian Plants Society, but has a special interest in fungi. He is an active member of the Fungi Section of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, works as a volunteer on the Fungimap project at the National Herbarium of Victoria, and has spent probably thousands of hours searching for fungi on field expeditions. So if you are walking under Black or Silver Wattles Geoff has provided the following note and photograph of C. between March and September and see clubs sticking up out gunnii, taken at Dom Dom Saddle. of the ground then spare a thought for the innocent larvae that lie buried below. Other members of the Cordyceps Three fungal tales parasitise beetles.

1. Moth murdered under wattle – no witnesses 2. Which came first – the gall or the insect? The larval state of the Australian Ghost Moth eats the trunks Rusts in the genus Uromycladium usually cause of mature wattles such as Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) inconspicuous leaf spots or shoot disfigurements, but and Silver Wattle (A. dealbata). It then digs about 10-20 cm branches infected by U. tepperianum produce prominent into the soil to eventually reappear as a moth. However, galls in wattles with phyllodes. Older galls become some unfortunate larvae ingest spores of a fungus in the tunneled by insects (species of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera) genus Cordyceps. The fungus will kill the larvae while it is which use them for food and egg laying. Infected branches underground and consume the soft tissue. It then sends a eventually die back beyond each gall, leading to the gradual white column up to the surface where it emerges as a club destruction of the host tree. Fungal spores are produced on the size of a large finger. Cordyceps gunnii (shown in the gall surfaces and are wind dispersed to new hosts. photo below) is the most common species and has an olive These spores also provide food for certain insects (eg. green to black club to 120 mm long that smoothly integrates Phalacrus, Coleoptera). U. notabile is similar to U. into the narrower yellow stem for another 40 mm. above tepperianum but is found on wattle species with true ground. Cordyceps hawkesii has a creamy brown club to 80 bipinnate .

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 5 3. The good guys “When young seedling acacias are being transplanted Fungi resemble a tangled mass of tiny white threads that the root disturbance causes many of them to emit a vile penetrate the material on which the fungus is growing – smell. It is always the same and looks like cotton wool and called hyphae. Hyphae grow lophantha has the same smell. Has anyone ever analysed outwards, produce enzymes, which soften and break apart it to find out the chemical identity? What is the the chemicals in the substrate; they then absorb these purpose? To deter root predators?” simpler chemical substances to fuel further growth. When the fungus has enough in storage and the weather is right, My understanding is that this question had never been then it fruits. satisfactorily answered. More recently, and quite independently of Jeff’s query, Esther Brueggemeier raised Mycorrhizal systems provide fungus-root systems for the same question in a conversation with her. Interestingly, transformation of nutrients from soil to plants. rather than talking about a vile smell, Esther stated that she Carbohydrates from the plant are transferred to the fungus, loves the smell (to the extent that she “almost gets high on while soil nutrients are transferred from fungus to plant. the stuff”). This relationship is essential in low nutrient soils that are common in Australia. In mycorrhizal systems, networks of It is an interesting question and we thought it worthy of the finer fungal hyphae radiate out from plant roots. This some further investigation, so we referred it to a number of greater exploration plus using enzymes to take up soil- experts. bound nutrients is more efficient than the roots alone. Alan Gray from the Tasmanian Herbarium suggests that the Eucalypts are believed to have 1,000 associated mycorrhizal smell probably arises from the activities of the nitrifying fungi. Acacias do not produce the same quality timber as root bacteria nodules that are common to most leguminous Eucalypts and so have not been studied to the same extent, plants. He often tells folks that are dealing with Acacias, ie however they would have similar need for mycorrhizal transplanting from pots or potting them up from seed, that fungi. the presence of that characteristic pong is a very good indication of the health of the plant, ie if it's on the nose then your plant is probably nice and healthy. As to the Acacias and Craft chemistry of the smell, he can't enlighten us. He does note that the characteristic smell is more or less an Acacia or close relative (eg Paraserianthes lophantha) feature and in The following is a photograph of a jumper recently knitted his experience doesn't seem to occur, or not nearly as by Sue Guymer for an APS friend with a newly born baby strongly on other legumes, native or exotic. He suggests boy. It features a wattle, and the photo is taken with a that the chemicals may be a combination of nitrogen and background of the lovely foliage of Acacia cognata. sulphur and that moisture assists with its production or generation.

Another botanist (who asked not to be named) advised that it is an “intriguing question” but was unable to provide any immediate response as to the chemical identity of the smell. He noted that a number of Mimosaceae are known to produce sulphurous compounds in the leaves or other plant parts. He also wondered whether it is related to cyanide production (fairly common in mimosoids).

We also referred the question to a horticulturist working for a plant research organization (who also asked not to be named in the Newsletter). His view was that the smell would relate to the root bacteria (he noted that a lot of bacteria do smell). In relation to the question as to whether the purpose of the smell is to deter root predators, he did not go along with this - he believes the smell is a secondary outcome of another process taking place, and it does not The Smell of Acacia Roots have any primary purpose such as deterral of root predators. It does appear that Jeff’s question is not a straightforward Some time ago, Jeff Irons in the UK asked a question re the one, especially that part relating to the chemical identity of smell of acacia roots. His question was: the smell.

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 6 There may now also be an ancillary question, and that is how it can be that Esther finds the smell a real turn on, “I’ve been thinking about Acacias. They aren’t my main whereas pong seems the most common response from interest, banksias are, but I’ve become more interested in others – but we think this question might be beyond the drought resistant plants and that of course includes many scope of this Newsletter. Acacias (actually I think that many species of Calothamnus are splendidly drought resistant, and I’ve got a few Whilst on the subject of root smells, Alan Gray has noted growing). that another plant which has a strong root smell that may be due to special bacteria is the Callitris. This, however, is a On Acacias, this garden has been in existence for about 5 very fragrant smell, a bit like cinnamon or other spice and years. It’s granite country, many rocky outcrops, otherwise makes potting them a pleasure. sandy or gravely soil. Very well drained. Rainfall is generally quite high, about 27” (675mm) but last year almost no rain from 1 August to end of year. I have only More Smells – Acacia seeds roof rainfall collected in tanks for household and garden use.

In talking to a number of people regarding the question of I began with fairly well known garden Acacias: acinacea, the smell of Acacia roots, the matter of the smell of crushed beckleri, baileyana, cognata 'Limelight', covenyi, elata, seeds was also mentioned on three occasions. glaucoptera, howittii, decurrens, leprosa 'Scarlet Blaze', pycnantha, prominens, retinodes, subulata (my favourite One individual recounted his time as a typical young boy at wattle, perhaps), spectabilis, verniciflua, implexa (naturally school when he and his mates used to think it great fun to occurring), and vestita. In the drought, I lost drummondii crush the seeds of Paraserianthes lophantha and spit on and myrtifolia, and howittii barely made it. them to wet them. Following this a strong pong would arise and they would then surreptitiously throw them under the As the spring began to dry, I planted guinetii and teacher's chair and anxiously wait for his (or her) nose to williamsonii which have done well. I put in seed of some start wrinkling as the pong took hold. others and planted these out in January (we got a mid month rain): gracilifolia, murrayana, redolens, paradoxa, This person notes that in later, more mature years, he has pentadenia, victoriae and merinthophora are all doing well. noticed that Acacia seeds react in much the same way, More experimentally, crassiuscula and everistii are starting although not as strongly. off well, although it is a bit early to say. A. pinguifolia is not yet succeeding. Acacia chrysella and A. camptoclada Another individual also recalled that when he was young he are too small yet and are still in pots as is something else – I also used to wet and crush Paraserianthes lophantha seeds either didn’t label something properly or a seed packet had to produce a "rotten egg" smell. mixed seeds.

And a third individual also recalled school days when So you can see my total “experimental” work is only with 3 apparently the done thing was to crush seeds of Acacia or 4 species and maybe that’s all been done before. I have howittii, moisten them, and then use your imagination as to plenty of space in my garden still, and could try more.” where to throw them.

I think my school education must have been lacking because I was never introduced to the games that one could play Some Wattles for the Garden with Paraserianthes or Acacia seeds. I only recall spending one year in a class room next to the Chemistry laboratory, In August last year, APS Maroondah Inc. and the National and being frequently engulfed with a rotten egg smell Herbarium of Victoria co-hosted a Conference known as the (which I am sure we were told was related to sulphur). F J C Rogers Biennial Seminar on the subject of Australian wattles (acacia2006 - Knowing and Growing Australian I am sure they were not doing experiments on Acacia seeds Wattles), attended by about 250 APS members from around in the Chemistry laboratory, but is the same chemical Australia including members of the Acacia Study Group, as involved? well as Australian and overseas botanists.

As part of the Conference, selected acacia species were propagated in forestry tubes by the Friends of the Royal Letter to the Editor Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, for sale to Conference attendees. An initial list of about 300 species was compiled Doug White lives at Longwood, about 140km north of – from the descriptions in the Volume 11 Melbourne. He has kindly written about some of the and the Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants (Elliot and acacias he is growing. Jones) on the basis of novelty, size, flowering season

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 7 outside the July to September period, good to excellent Australian Acacias in Europe. Dr Roland’s paper can be horticultural features and suitability for cultivation in small viewed on his web site, at: gardens in SE Australia. These were mainly dwarf, small and medium sized wattles that were not commonly available www.acacia-world.net (click on the Europe tab) through nursery outlets. One day of the Seminar was a Scientific Day. Dr Dan Of these, about 100 species were listed in seed banks of the Murphy from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne has Acacia Study Group, APS Maroondah, APS Victoria and written a summary of this day which was published in the Nindethana Seed Service. Over 80 species were ordered, September 2006 newsletter of the Australian Systematic and 74 supplied and propagated (some propagating material Botany Society. This newsletter can be downloaded from: was also donated by some individuals). After some failures during propagation, and elimination of 1 – 2 species with www.anbg.gov.au/asbs/newsletter/index.html weed potential, 64 species were offered for sale. To facilitate selection, participants were provided with a table of cultivation notes for these species. This table is reproduced on pages 9 and 10 with the permission of APS Some Administrative Matters Maroondah. This newsletter has been sent by post or email to members' We believe it may be of interest to monitor the success (or addresses as recorded when the previous newsletter was otherwise) of the plants sold at the Seminar once planted out prepared. No doubt some of these addresses will have in gardens. Any reports from people who purchased plants changed since then, and we will need to update our at the Seminar would be very much appreciated (and will be membership file. We would very much appreciate it if you included in future Newsletters). could assist by advising any corrections to the details that we have recorded for you. Note: Seminar attendees were warned that some species being sold could have the potential to become weeds, and It would also help us if you could return the renewal form care should be exercised especially if being planted near included with this newsletter (where necessary). That bushland areas. These species included A. baileyana, A. renewal form covers membership for the year commencing boormanii, A. montana, A. murrayana, A. triquetra, A. 1 July 2007. We are planning to issue 3 or 4 newsletters victoriae and A. wilhelmiana. each year.

Some of the species that did not germinate were A. Any letters, comments, questions, feedback etc will be brachyclada, A. coriacea, A. empelioclada, A. hadrophylla, greatly appreciated. And for any members who may have A. lasiocarpa var. sedifolia, A. oxyclada, A. tetraptera and attended last year's Seminar, acacia2006, and purchased A. hamiltoniana. plants at the Seminar, your feedback on how well or otherwise those plants are progressing would be much Some Web References appreciated. Note, the annual membership fee is as follows: The following web references, relating to last year’s Acacia $5 (newsletter sent by email) Seminar, may be of interest. $8 (hardcopy of newsletter posted in Australia) $12 (hardcopy of newsletter posted overseas) Guest speaker at the Seminar Dinner was Ian Campbell MA who is the grand son of Archibald James Campbell. In the Subscriptions may be sent to: early part of the 20th century, A J Campbell popularized the ASGAP Acacia Study Group Leader wattle as Australia’s national symbol, and his 1921 Esther Brueggemeier publication Golden Wattle – Our National Emblem is 28 Staton Crescent recognized as an important contribution in the history of Westlake, Victoria 3337 Australian natural history writing. Ian Campbell’s talk at the Seminar was titled “Yellow-haired September”. He has Subscriptions may also be paid directly to our Account at subsequently written an article based on the talk he gave at the Bendigo Bank. Account details are: the Seminar and this can be viewed on line at: Account Name: ASGAP Acacia Study Group http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/archive/Issue-February- BSB: 633-000 2007/EcoCampbell.htm Account Number: 130786973

One of the papers presented at the Seminar was by Dr Wolf- If you pay directly to the Bank Account, please advise Achim Roland of Solingen, Germany, on the subject Esther by email ([email protected])

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 8 List of Species Propagated for Sale at acacia2006 – Knowing and Growing Australian Wattles

Species Size and Habit Foliage Flowers Situation 5-12 x 0.5-1 mm pale-bright yellow balls aculeatissima 0.2-1.5 x 1-2 pungent Jun-Nov part sun, dry, clay, well-dr. full/part sun, dry, well- aestivalis 2-3.5 x 1-2 m upright 3-10 x 0.5 cm golden balls Dec-Mar drained large pale yellow balls full/part sun, dry, well- alcockii 2-3 x 2-3 m 6-9 x 0.8-8 cm Dec-Feb drained, coastal aneura 4-10 x 2-6 m open 3-7.5 cm, narrow golden rods Jun-Oct &c full sun, arid argyrophylla 3-4 x 4-6 m dense 2-4.5 x 1-1.5 cm golden balls Aug-Nov full/part sun, warm, lime-tol. 1-3 x 0.5 cm resinous, cream to yellow balls full/part sun, dry, v. well- aspera 1-2 x 2-3 m hairy Jul-Nov drained 5-8 x 0.1cm hooked assimilis 0.3-1.5 x 0.5-2.5 m apex yellow balls May-Sep full/part sun, dry well-drained full/part sun, dry, heavy to baileyana dwarf 1.5 x 1.5 m bipinnate yellow racemes Jul-Aug light. boormanii Mt Typo bright yellow racemes part/full sun, wet, well- variant 3-5 x 2-5 m 3-6 x 0.2-0.5 cm Jul-Oct fragr drained calamifolia (or 2-3 x 2-4 m semi- full/part sun, dry, wet, well- euthycarpa?) weeping 5-20 x 0.2 cm hooked golden balls Jul-Nov drained bright yellow balls Jul- calantha 2-3 x 1-2 m 7-15 x 0.1 cm Sep full sun, dry, well-drained bright yellow balls Aug- camptoclada 1-1.6 x 1-3 m 0.6 -1.5 x 0.2-0.4 cm Oct full sun, dry, well-drained 6-21 x 0.1-1.2 cm chamaeleon 2-3 x 2-3 m hooked golden balls, all year full/part sun, well-drained deep golden racemes chinchillensis 0.5-2 x 1-2 m 3-8 x 2-3 cm bipinnate Jul-Sep full/part sun, well-drained cochlearis 1-2 x 1-2 m dense 2-5-5 x 0.5 cm yellow balls Oct-Nov full/part sun, well-drained large yellow balls Dec- complanata 2-6 x 2-4 m zig-zagged 5-10 x 1-3.5 cm May &c full/part sun, well-drained deep yellow balls Apr- conferta 2-4 x 2-4 m 1-1.5 x 0.2-0.4 cm Aug, &c full/part sun 1-2 x 0.3 cm recurved, curvata 1-1.5 x 1-2 m pungent golden balls May-Jul full/part sun, dry heavy soils 1.5 x 1 cm, triangular, short golden rods Jul- delphina 0.5-2 x 0.5-1 m pungent Oct full/part sun, well-drained large golden rods Sep- denticulosa 2-4 x 2-3 m upright 5-7 x 4-5 cm prickly Nov full/part sun, v. well-drained dictyoneura 2-3 x 2-3 m 0.6-1 cm round, wavy yellow balls Mar-Dec part sun, well-drained drummondii ssp elegans 2-3 x 2-3 m dense, bipinnate 3-4 pairs of 'Grossus' vigorous pinnae golden rods Jul-Oct part sun, well-drained ericifolia 1 x 1-2 m, hairy 1-2 x 0.2 cm, blue-green yellow balls, May-Oct full/part sun, dry well-drained 5-8 x 1-2 cm ashy, excelsa 10-25 x 5-15 m falcate cream balls Apr-Jul, &c full sun, well drained yellow balls Jun-Nov filifolia 1-3 x 2-3 m 2.5-10 x 0.2 cm curved &c. full sun, dry, well-drained large light golden balls flagelliformis 0.5-2 x 0.5-1.5 m 2-11 x 0.1-0.5 cm Jun-Jul full/part sun, wet, swampy bright yellow racemes full/part sun, moist well- flocktoniae 2-4 x 1-2 m 6-8 x 0.2-0.3 cm Jun-Dec drained gilbertii 1-2 x 1-2 m bipinnate 1.5 cm white balls Dec-Mar part sun, well-drained gladiiformis 1-4 x 0.5-1.5 upright 7-15 x 1-1.2 cm bright yellow Nov-Feb full, well-drained handonis 1-2 x 1-2 m 6-12 x 0.4 mm yellow balls Jul-Aug full sun, dry, well-drained heterochroa ssp 1.5-3.5 x 1-2.5 cm grey- large lemon balls Jul- full sun, dry, well-drained, heterochroa 0.5-2 x 0.6-2 m green Dec, &c acidic 1-5 x 0.2-0.8 cm triang, full sun, dry, well-drained, inaequiloba 0.3-1.5 x 0.6-2 m pungent yellow balls Jul-Sep acidic deep yellow spikes Mar- full/part sun, dry, well- jibberdingensis 3-5 x 3-4 m 10-25 x 0.2 cm Aug &c drained

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 9 List of Species Propagated for Sale at acacia2006 – Knowing and Growing Australian Wattles (cont)

Species Size and Habit Foliage Flowers Situation lachnophylla (syn cometes) 0.2-0.8 x 0.5-0.8 m 10-20 x 0.7-1 mm golden balls, Oct-Nov full/part sun, well-drained bright yellow balls May- lanigera 0.3-2 x 1-3 m 2-7 0.7-1 cm Oct full/part sun, well-drained 1.5-5 x 0.07-0.17 cm full/part sun, dry, well- laracina var laracina 0.3-1 x 1-2 m pungent cream balls Oct-Nov drained cream-light yellow balls lateriticola 0.5-2 x 1-2 m pinnate/bipinnate May-Oct full/part sun, well-drained bright yellow racemes leptoclada 1-2 x 0.5-2.5 m bipinnate Sep-Nov part sun, well-drained 1-3 x 1-3 m minni- full/part sun, moist-wet, masliniana ritchie bk 5-13.5 x 0.2 cm pungent golden balls Jul-Sep saline bright yellow balls Aug- full/part sun, dry, well- montana 2-4 x 2-5 m 1-4 x 0.4-0.6 cm Nov drained, lime-tol 2-6 x 2-7 m pink-white bright yellow racems full sun, arid, hot, lime- murrayana bark 6-20 x 0.5-0.7 cm Aug-Oct tolerant myrtifolia Hat Head cream-pale yellow balls full/part sun, coastal, well- NSW prost. 0.2-0.3 x 2 m 2-4 x 1-1.5 cm Jul-Oct drained 1.5-5 x 1-2.5 cm white to p.yellow balls full/part sun, dry, well- obovata 0.3-0.6 x 0.3-0.6 m undulate Mar-Sep drained 2.5-5.5 x 0.3-0.8 cm patagiata 0.5-2.5 x 1-3 m incurved golden balls Jul-Sep full sun, wet, saline, 8-12 x 6-10 cm p.yell. scented racemes part/(full) sun moist, well- pentadenia 3-4 x 3-4 m bipinnate Sep-Nov drained light yellow rods Aug- full/part sun, dry v. well- phasmoides 2-4 x 1.5-3 m open 5-10 x 0.1-0.2 cm Oct drained 0.5-1 x 0.5-1.1 cm pale yellow balls Jun-Jul full/part sun, dry, well- phlebopetala 0.4-1.5 x 1-2 m triangular Dec-Feb drained ptychoclada 1-2 x 0.5-1 m 5-11 x 0.1 cm pungent pale yellow balls JanApr full/part sun, wet, swampy 7-25 x 0.6-1.3 mm, full/part sun, dry, well- sessilis 0.5-1 x 1 m pungent golden racemes Jul-Oct drained bright yellow spikes full/part sun, dry, v. well- sessilispica 2-4 x 2-3 m open 6-15 x 0.1 cm Aug-Nov drained full/part sun, dry, well- spinescens 0.5-2 x 1-2 m spiny leafless golden balls Jul-Nov drained full/part sun, dry, well- squamata 0.15-0.6 x 0.1-1 m 2-7 x 0.1-0.2 cm golden racemes Jul-Sep drained 3.5-7 x 0.1-0.2 cm full/part sun, dry, v. well- subflexuosa 0.3-1 x 0.3-1 m curved golden balls Aug-Sep drained teretifolia 0.5-1 x 1-2 m 2-4 x 0.2 cm pungent yellow balls, Jun-Nov full/part sun, well-drained 0.6-1.3 x 0.1 cm grey- deep golden balls Aug- tindaleae 1-2 x 0.5-1.5 m, hairy green Sep full/part sun, well-drained 1-4 x 0.1-0.3 cm trigonophylla 1-2.5 x 1-2 m decurrent, pungent golden balls Oct-Nov part sun, dry, well-drained 2-3 cm decurrent, short golden rods Sep- full sun, dry, well-drained triptera 1-3 x 1-5 m falcate, pungent Dec heavy soil triquetra 1.5 x 2 m 10-25 x 2-6 mm golden balls Sep-Oct full sun, wet/dry lime tol. 0.9-2.5 x 0.5-1.3 cm pale yellow balls Jun- full/part sun, well-drained, truncata 1-3 x 1-3 m obtriangular Sep dry, lime-tol. 3-5 x 1-1.5 cm falcate, bright yellow balls Jun - uncifera 1-2 x 1-2 m hooked Sep full sun, well-drained bright yellow balls Oct- uncinata 2-4 x 1-2 m 1-3 x 0.5-1 cm undulate Feb &c full/part sun, well-drained cream-pale yellow balls full/part sun, dry, well- victoriae 3-12 x 4-6 m, spiny 2-5 x 0.2-0.8 cm Aug-Sep drained yellow racemes, Sep- full/part sun, well-drained, wattsiana 1.5-3 x 2-3 m, dense 3-7 x 0.5-1.2 cm Dec lime-tol. pale yellow gold balls full/part sun, well-drained, wilhelmiana 1-3 x 1-3 m hairy sticky 1-3 x 0.1-0.4 cm, hooked Aug - Dec lime-tol.

Acacia Study Group Newsletter No. 97 Page 10