Re: the Silver Wattle
- Subject: Re: the Silver Wattle
- From: T* a* M* R*
- Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 21:05:57 +1300
Charles Dills wrote:
>
> Hi Moira, and other Acacia experts. I have added pictures of
> a tree sold to me as a Silver Wattle which of course is an Acacia sp.
> I can't find this common name listed in ,my books and am hoping all
> you people in that part of the world will come to my rescue and
> identify it for me. You'll find it at
> http://www.charlies-web.com/slotrees/feb.html
>
Hi Chas
Well first of all it is definitely _not_ the Silver wattle (A dealbata)
as this is a species which has proper feathery leaves, not phyllodes as
your tree does and moreover they have a mealy coat which does indeed
make them look quite silvery. It is a very pretty species and well worth
growing if you can get it. The popular variety here is one in which the
leaves have a definite purple tinge which makes then even more
decorative when out of flower..
You don't say how big your tree is, but from the photo I guess quite
large.
It is a little difficult from thepics to tell the type of infloresences
it has, but they do seem to be a quite long candle shape. There are
several possibilities, but a most likely guess I should say is the
Sydney Golden Wattle, A longifolia. It is certainly quite hardy and I
have seen it planted in this area. It is particularly fast-growing.
I don't have A retinoides in any of my books, but from the pic and
description of this you give I suspect the infloresences are probably
not quite long enough and too stumpy, though it certainly looks a
possibility.
Incidently, although Acacias are well known and often grown in NZ, none
is actually native here while Australia has lots. There are also some in
Africa. The flat-topped thorn trees which so often figure in game photos
are also Acacias.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata NZ,
where it's Summer in January and Winter in July.
