Golden Wattle, Acacia longifolia, produces millions of seeds, which have an orange fleshy attachment that ants like to eat. The ants take the seed underground, eat the orange flesh, but cannot eat the hard black seed itself. When a fire passes over, the buried seed is gently baked, cracking open the hard shell and germinating the seed. In coastal heaths which have frequent fires, Golden Wattle can be one of the dominant species.

Birds and insects with stronger jaws than ants also eat the seeds, which greatly reduces the number of viable seed in Australia. However in Portugal and South Africa, the lack of seed predators allows Golden Wattle to take hold as a very invasive weed. In some parts of Australia it is also considered a weed, but its dominance generally indicates a too-high frequency of fire which has eliminated other shrubs.

Golden Wattle is planted to prevent soil and sand erosion, used as food (flowers, seeds and seed pods), the flowers can produce yellow dye, the pods produce green dye and the wood is light and hard. The tree's bark can be used to tan hides, such as sheepskin. All acacias are legumes which fix atmospheric nitrogen to the sol, therefore helping pioneer the ground for other plants. This makes them an important species for bush regeneration.

Golden Wattle is a fast growing tree, common along the east coast of Australia. The tree shown here was photographed at the rear of Hostel at Manna Park, between the clothesline and the picnic table.

Click on either of the pictures to download a higher resolution image (T.Hastings September 2009)