Cootamundra wattle
Encyclopedia
Acacia baileyana, commonly known as Cootamundra Wattle, is a shrub
or tree
in the genus Acacia
. The scientific name of the species honours the botanist Frederick Manson Bailey
. It is indigenous to a small area of southern New South Wales
in Australia
, but it has been widely planted in other Australian states. In many areas of Victoria
, Cootamundra Wattle has become naturalised and is regarded as a weed
, out-competing indigenous Victorian species.
Almost all wattles have cream to golden flowers. The small flowers are arranged in spherical to cylindrical inflorescence
s, with only the stamen
s prominent. Wattles have been extensively introduced
into New Zealand
.
Less than 0.02% alkaloids were found in a chemical analysis of Acacia baileyana.
. Also, it hybridises with some other wattles, notably the rare and endangered Sydney Basin
species Acacia pubescens.
A prostrate weeping form is in cultivation. Its origin is unknown, but it itself is a popular garden plant, its cascading horizontal branches good for rockeries. The fine foliage of the original Cootamundra wattle is grey-green, but a blue-purple foliaged form, known as 'Purpurea' is very popular.
as their colour scheme for firefighting appliances.
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
in the genus Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
. The scientific name of the species honours the botanist Frederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey CMG was a botanist active in Australia, who made valuable contributions to the characterisation of the flora of Queensland.-Early life:...
. It is indigenous to a small area of southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but it has been widely planted in other Australian states. In many areas of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Cootamundra Wattle has become naturalised and is regarded as a weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
, out-competing indigenous Victorian species.
Almost all wattles have cream to golden flowers. The small flowers are arranged in spherical to cylindrical inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s, with only the stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s prominent. Wattles have been extensively introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
into New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Uses
A. baileyana is used in Europe in the cut flower industry. It is also used as food for bees in the production of honey.Less than 0.02% alkaloids were found in a chemical analysis of Acacia baileyana.
Cultivation
This plant is adaptable and easy to grow. Unfortunately it has an ability to naturalise (i.e. escape) into surrounding bushlandBushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
. Also, it hybridises with some other wattles, notably the rare and endangered Sydney Basin
Sydney Basin
The Sydney Basin is a sedimentary basin on the east coast of New South Wales, Australia consisting of Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks...
species Acacia pubescens.
A prostrate weeping form is in cultivation. Its origin is unknown, but it itself is a popular garden plant, its cascading horizontal branches good for rockeries. The fine foliage of the original Cootamundra wattle is grey-green, but a blue-purple foliaged form, known as 'Purpurea' is very popular.
Use of Colour
The colour Cootamundra Wattle is used currently by the Australian Capital Territory Fire BrigadeAustralian Capital Territory Fire Brigade
The ACT Fire and Rescue is the urban fire and rescue service for the Australian Capital Territory. It along with the ACT Ambulance Service, ACT State Emergency Service and ACT Rural Fire Service are part of the Australian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency .- Stations, vehicles and special...
as their colour scheme for firefighting appliances.