Acacia longifolia (Andr.) Willd.   =Acacia latifolia   Fabaceae (Pea Family)   Australia   Golden Wattle   Sydney Golden Wattle

                                            March Photo

Plant Characteristics: Tree, 5-8 m. high, with light green foliage; phyllodia (dilated petiole serving as a leaf-blade) oblong-lanceolate, 5-15 cm. long, 2-4 veined, the 2 margins convex, the gland near the base; fls. bright yellow, in spikes 2-6 cm. long; fruit, 5-10 cm. long, +/- straight, +/- cylindric, narrowed between seeds, ending in a curved beak, brown; seeds black, the funicle fitting like a cap over one end.

Habitat:  Widely cultivated. An Australian species; occasional escape.  Feb.-May.

Name:  Greek, akakie, from ake, a point, because of the prickles.  (Munz, Calif. Flora 797).  Latin, longus, long and Latin, folium, a leaf.  (Jaeger 104).

General:  Uncommon in the study area; found on the 23rd St. bluffs and Northstar Beach.  Photographed both places.  (my comments).      Acacia species have been known to cause hay fever and asthma.  (Fuller 381).     See A. cyanophylla, for notes on other uses of the genus.

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 582; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 421; Roberts 23.

Photo Ref:  April-May 84 # 11; Jan 4-Feb 1 84 # 11.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  February 1984.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 72.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 12/18/04

.                                February Photo                                                                        July Photo