Wattle
Origin of name
Family: MIMOSACEAE
- Acacia meaning “a point“
- spirorbis meaning “spiralled“
Occurrence
A local species. Grows in monsoon forest, dry rainforest & beach forest, and on drier sites in woodland/open forest.
Growth conditions not well known. Appears to prefer full sun, well-drained soils, and probably tolerates salt spray.
Appearance
Tree to ~12m. Curved leaves have 2-3, more prominent veins. Creamy spikes appear in summer-autumn, followed by flat, spirally-coiled pods with shiny, dark brown seeds. A yellow/orange, many folded aril is below each seed.
An attractive foliage tree. Attracts insects that, in turn attract insect-eating birds. Seed-eating birds eat the seeds.
