*Acacia longifolia var. sophorae
MIMOSACEAE
Coastal Wattle
Widely spread throughout the world. Used for soil preservation &^ nitrogen fixing especially along coastal areas. A quick growing tree with a lifespan of 5 to 6 years.
Low growing with sprawling lower branches, reaching 3 m high & 4m wide.
Bark on older stems is grey, either finely fissured or smooth, on younger branches it is green/reddish.
Leaves, 4 to 11 cm x 10 to 30mm, dull green, oblong with blunt, slightly rounded tips. 2 to 4 longitudinal veins.
Bright yellow flowers, elongated spikes up to 50mm long occurring in the leaf axils. Flowering late winter into spring..
Woody cylindrical pod often coiled & twisted on opening. 4 to 15 cm long. Constricted between each seed. Dark, smooth seeds 5 to 6mm long x 3 to 4mm wide, each with a large fleshy orange aril attached to the seed, sometimes irregular.
Aboriginal people harvested the green seed pods, then steamed them lightly. The protein rich seeds are picked out & eaten.
The flowers are used in yellow dye & the pods for green dye. The bark, high in tannin has a limited use for tanning sheep skins & fishermens sails.