Zig-zag wattle
Acacia macradenia
family
Mimosaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Zig-zag wattle, Zigzag wattle.
A large shrub or small tree with alternately arranged simple 'leaves' and zig-zagging branches. Its long and narrow dark green 'leaves' have a single central vein running lengthwise and prominent margins. its new growth (i.e. young 'leaves' and branches) are often reddish in colour. Its bright yellow or golden yellow flowers are borne in small globular clusters that are arranged in compound clusters in the leaf forks. Its elongated and flattened pods (up to 8 cm long and 5 mm wide) are constricted between each of the seeds.
Impact
Impact
This species is now regarded as an emerging environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland. It has been widely cultivated in gardens in the coastal parts of this region because of its unusual architecture and striking floral displays. It is also commonly planted along roadsides and in amenity areas, because it is 'native' to Queensland. However, it is not native to this part of the state and has spread from such plantings, particularly in the Greater Brisbane and Gold Coast areas.For example, zig-zag wattle (Acacia macradenia) was planted extensively along the margins of the Toohey Forest at Nathan in the south-east of Brisbane some time ago. It has now spread into extensively into Toohey Forest, where it hybridises with the local Brisbane wattle (Acacia fimbriata). Therefore, this species should be taken seriously as a weed because it has the ability to invade natural bushland areas and replace populations of native wattles with unnatural hybrids. It has also recently been observed in parks and reserves in many parts of western Brisbane (e.g. Mount Crosby, St. Lucia, Redbank and Mount Coot-tha).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
This species is now regarded as an emerging environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland. It has been widely cultivated in gardens in the coastal parts of this region because of its unusual architecture and striking floral displays. It is also commonly planted along roadsides and in amenity areas, because it is 'native' to Queensland. However, it is not native to this part of the state and has spread from such plantings, particularly in the Greater Brisbane and Gold Coast areas.For example, zig-zag wattle (Acacia macradenia) was planted extensively along the margins of the Toohey Forest at Nathan in the south-east of Brisbane some time ago. It has now spread into extensively into Toohey Forest, where it hybridises with the local Brisbane wattle (Acacia fimbriata). Therefore, this species should be taken seriously as a weed because it has the ability to invade natural bushland areas and replace populations of native wattles with unnatural hybrids. It has also recently been observed in parks and reserves in many parts of western Brisbane (e.g. Mount Crosby, St. Lucia, Redbank and Mount Coot-tha).
