Family:

Fabaceae

Acacia ulicifolia

Prickly Moses

Other Names: Juniper Wattle

Name Origin:

ulicifolia – refers to the gorse-like foliage (Ulex genus).

Regional Subspecies:

Occurrence:

Regional:

Locally in Murrumbidgee areas: Snowball-Stony; Gilmore ‘Lower Reaches’; Sandy and Gocup. Primarily east of Hume Highway.

Australia:

Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas.

Habitat:

Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, usually on sandy soil.

Habit:

Spreading to erect shrub 50 cm to 2 m high. Smooth grey bark, resinous hairy branchlets and more or less rigid and straight pointed ‘leaves’ 8-15 mm long.

Site Preference:

Moist well-drained light to heavy soil. Dappled shade or partial sun. Tolerates frost.

Characteristics:

Short-lived. Hardy. Fast-growing.

Flowering:

Pale yellow to almost white, usually Apr-Oct.

Seed Collection:

Mid Oct to late Jan.

Propagation:

From scarified seed or cuttings. 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 soil 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, and nectar source for birds such as honeyeaters. Seed a food source for parrots and native pigeons.

Ornamental:

Useful barrier, screen or hedge with attractive foliage, for low maintenance areas. Hardy and adaptable.