Wattle be the Day

 September the 1st, the first day of Official Spring in Australia, is also Wattle Day.  As a straw in the wind of discussion how ridiculous the 4 seasons are (sorry Signor Vivaldi and Nigel Kennedy) it could be noted that some species of Wattle have been flowering in Mallacoota for months.  However, to quote Donald Sutherland in Kelly's Heroes "Enough with the negative waves."  Here are some images of some of the Acacia species flowering around Mallacoota.  

I used Joy Grieg's book "Wildflowers of the Wilderness Coast" to identify the species.  I hope I have got the names correct, but any errors are mine, not Joy's!

Unknown garden specimen

It is probably bad form to start with an unidentified specimen, but every year I marvel at this tree in a garden on Lakeside Drive.  A mass of golden flowers against a clear blue sky.

Acacia oxycedrus

I found this species in the heath on the track off Genoa Rd opposite the Pony Club.  In the past I have rarely found it. but this year it is everywhere.

Acacia ulicifolia

A little further down the same track.  The specific element of the name means "gorse-leaved".  Interestingly the vernacular name is offered as "Juniper Wattle".

We found many example of this species on a walk along the Captains Creek Fire trail.

Acacia suavolens

Quite a common species, and has been flowering for some time.

Acacia longifolia

There are two sub-species of this taxon found in the Mallacoota area.  These first images are from the track opposite the Pony Club and are A. l. longifolia.

The next image is of the subspecies A. l. sophorae usually found on the coast but in this case snapped in our garden.

Acacia myrtifolia

The specific name means "myrtle-leafed".   Very common in heaths including the track opposite the Pony Club and near the Gun Club.

Acacia brownii

This one comes from the Genoa Creek Track.  Possibly the brightest yellow of the flowers, but the plant is rather low growing.  According to wikipedia the name honours Robert Brown who first described it.  The species seems to have been subject to more than usual reclassification and taxonomic changing of mind.

Acacia terminalis

This is described by Joy as having "fern-like foliage".  Flora of Victoria use the term 'bipinnate' for the same concept.  The species has finished flowering but I found an attractive clump of seed pods on the Captains Creek Fire Trail.