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.