Acacia sophorae, commonly known as coastal wattle or coast wattle, is a wattle found in coastal and subcoastal south-eastern Australia from the Eyre Peninsula to southern Queensland.[2][3] It is sometimes considered a subspecies of sallow wattle (Acacia longifolia).[4] The specific epithet refers to its similarity to plants in the genus Sophora.

Acacia sophorae
Fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Acacia
Species:
A. sophorae
Binomial name
Acacia sophorae
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms
  • Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae (Labill.) Court

Description

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In exposed situations it is a large, prostrate or decumbent shrub, with its trunk and lower branches usually growing along the ground, reaching up to 3 m in height and spreading to 4 m or more horizontally. The oval phyllodes are 50–100 mm long with prominent longitudinal veins. The bright yellow flowers occur as elongated spikes up to 50 mm long in the phyllode axils. Flowering occurs mainly in late winter and spring. It occurs on primary dunes, in coastal heath, open forest and alluvial flats. It is used for dune stabilisation on beaches where it will tolerate sea spray and sand blast, providing protection for less hardy plants.[2][5][6][7]

References

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  1. ^ Brown, R. in Aiton, W.T. (1813) Hortus Kewensis Edn. 2, 5: 462
  2. ^ a b "Acacia sophorae". Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Acacia sophorae (Labill.) R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Acacia sophorae' (Labill.) R.Br". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Flora of Victoria. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  5. ^ Longmore, Sue; Smithyman, Steve; Crawley, Matt (2010). Coastal Plants of the Bellarine Peninsula. Bellarine Catchment Network.
  6. ^ "Coastal Wattle Acacia sophorae" (PDF). Coastal sand dunes – their vegetation and management. Leaflet No.IV-10. Department of Environment, Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Acacia sophorae". Australian Native Plants Society. August 2010. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
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