White Wattle

~ Acacia floribunda ~

FABACEAE

Acacia floribunda, with its pendulous fine-leaved foliage, strangely enough does not contain any leaves at all; rather, it has leaf-like structures called phyllodes. These phyllodes are flattened and widened leaf stalks (aka petioles) that have evolved to serve the exact same function as your regular ol’ leaf. This feature is fairly common in most, if not all, Acacias. White Wattle, also often called Weeping Acacia or Gossamer Wattle, is one of the few Acacias with edible properties; about 50 of the 800 species of Acacia native to Australia have been utilised in Indigenous agriculture.

WHERE TO LOOK

White Wattle is endemic to the forests east of Gippsland in Victoria extending west to near Briagolong. It enjoys temperate and subtropical zones, congregating along the east coast from Victoria to Queensland and peeping ever so slightly into South Australia, Western Australia and lutruwita (Tasmania).

Locations → Queensland: Toohey Forest Park, Girraween National Park, Mount Barney National Park and Tamborine Mountain; NSW: Royal National Park, Murrah Flora Reserves and Garigal National Park; Victoria: Briagolong and Koonung Creek Wetlands.

FEATURES

White Wattle can grow as a spreading shrub or tree reaching 8m in height. Its bark is smooth and grey with paler mottles or streaks. It features puffy flower rods that are cream to pale yellow inflorescences growing around 2–8cm long. Its elongated seedpods can grow 6–12cm long and are filled with numerous edible seeds. Its ‘leaves’ (those phyllodes) are soft, thin and 5–19 cm long. Some Acacia species are known to contain tryptamines within their bark and phyllodes, and Acacia floribunda is one of them. The mature bark is known to contain 0.3–0.5 per cent DMT (a substituted tryptamine) and viable phyllodes can contain 0.2–0.4 per cent. For more information, check out Articulations by Julian Palmer. Be mindful that some Acacia species, such as Acacia georginae, are toxic.

FLOWERING SEASON

Winter and spring → Its long, cylindrical, fluffy cream flowers can be seen from August to October.

TRADITIONAL USES

White Wattle has been used in First Nation communities for thousands of years. Wattle seed is now sold commercially as a food source and flour substitute. The seeds are roasted, ground and then mixed with water to make a dough. When cooked or heated, it has a nutty, coffee-chocolate flavour.

PLANTING

Pre-treat seeds by pouring boiling water over them and leaving overnight. It is a fast-growing, short-lived perennial that can help with erosion and restoring nitrogen levels into soil. Plant into well-draining soil in full sun.