Family:

Fabaceae

Acacia siculiformis

Dagger Wattle

Other Names:

Name Origin:

siculiformis — from Latin sicula, small dagger, and formis, resembling, referring to dagger-like ‘leaves’.

Regional Subspecies:

Occurrence:

Regional:

Noted in the hills of the areas: Rosewood Plateau; Ournie; Paddy’s River-Burra Valley; Tooma and Bringenbrong-Khancoban.

Australia:

NSW, Vic, Tas.

Habitat:

Eucalypt woodland and dry sclerophyll forest, often on granite-derived soils. Common near streams.

Habit:

Spreading to erect shrub 50 cm to 3 m high with rigid ‘leaves’ 1-3 cm long.

Site Preference:

Well-drained rocky or sandy sites. Tolerates frost and snow. Very hardy.

Flowering:

Golden-yellow or pale-yellow to more or less white, Aug-Nov.

Seed Collection:

Early Dec to late Feb.

Propagation:

From scarified seed. Pour boiling water over seeds and soak for several hours before drying and sowing.

Regeneration:

From seed, particularly after fire.

VALUES:

Shade & Shelter:

Useful low-level cover in windbreaks.

Land Protection:

Useful in controlling erosion, due to soil-binding fibrous roots. Legume — improves soil fertility by ‘fixing’ nitrogen.

Wildlife:

Prickly foliage good refuge for small birds. Flowers are a pollen source for native moths, butterflies and other insects. Insect-eating birds attracted. Nectar an important food for native insects and birds. Seed source for parrots and native pigeons.

Ornamental:

Attractive for low maintenance areas in cool regions.