Junior RangerS www.juniorrangers.com.au JR FACT FILE Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha

At a Glance Australia, Victoria, New South Wales Golden Wattle has been exported and the Australian Capital Territory. from Australia and has been grown Size: The Golden Wattle prefers temperate in other countries for tan bark Grows as a shrub, or small tree regions with moderate rainfall. production, perfume making and as an ornamental plant. four to ten metres tall. They are fast growing and are Distribution: good colonisers (which means Want to Know More? they are good at growing in Widespread throughout south www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/aust. disturbed or freshly cleared soil). eastern Australia. emblem.html Golden Wattle regenerates easily What Is the Golden Wattle? after fires. Generally the fire kills the parent plants but if rain follows soon Acacia trees are more commonly afterwards, it stimulates germination known as wattles. There are more of seeds stored in the soil. than 900 species of acacia in Australia. The Golden Wattle with Other Interesting Facts about its bright yellow and green foliage Golden Wattles: was proclaimed Australia’s national After the plant reaches seedling floral emblem in August 1988. stage, true leaves are absent, and In 1912, on the recommendation are replaced by phyllodes. The of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher, leathery phyllodes are 6-20 wattle was included as the decoration centimetres long, sickle-shaped surrounding the Commonwealth Coat and bright green in colour. of Arms, and has also been used in In spring large fluffy golden-yellow the design of Australian stamps. flower-heads with up to eighty small Where Do Golden Wattles Grow? sweetly scented flowers provide a bright contrast to the foliage. The Golden Wattle grows beneath larger dark brown mature fruit, 7 to 12 trees in Australian forests, woodlands centimetres long, splits along one and in scrub throughout South side to release the seeds.

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