Wattle (leaves pinnate)
| Botanical Name | Racosperma spp. |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Origin | Mainly Australia |
Identification
Shrubs to large trees. There are two groups of Racosperma, previously known as acacia - those with pinnate leaves shown here and those with leaves reduced to phyllodes (extensions of the stem) as in the previous entry. Glands are present on the leaf stems and midribs between pinnae. Flowers are spikes or globose heads solitary or branched and unbranched clusters and usually yellow or cream. In the legume family (Fabaceae), wattles in NZ have pods up to 50 mm long. Common species with pinnate leaves are black wattle (AR. mearnsii) and less commonly Parramatta green wattle (R. parramattense), silver wattle (R. dealbatum) and green wattle (R. decurrens). Acacias with pinnate (frond-like) leaves are confused easily with the very common brush wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha) shown in the next entry.Habitats
Roadsides, wasteplaces, shrubland. Common and locally abundant.Impact to Biota and Ecosystems
Serious threat to regenerating bush and sprouts where canopy space occurs. Unchecked growth in cleared areas can result in a wattle forest which will exclude development of native plant species. A nitrogen fixer which is a threat to gumlands. Sydney golden wattle can form dense thickets.Dispersal Routes, Vectors, Infestation Sources
Cultivation escape. Regenerates well after fire. Can seed prolifically. Some species form dense stands by suckering.Management
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Management |
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| Physical Control | Hand pull seedlings. stemcut or fell larger trees and treat with herbicide. Felling trees may open up new space for wattle seedling growth so treatment of standing trees may be more suitable. |
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| Chemical Control |
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Biological Control |
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| Recommended Approach | |