Coastal wattle, Boobyalla
Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate and subtropical plant. It occurs naturally in cooler parts of eastern Australia. It prefers light sandy soil but can tolerate most kinds of soil conditions. It needs well drained soil. It requires an open sunny position. It is drought, wind and frost resistant. It is salt tolerant. It often grows along coastal sand dunes. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), New Zealand, Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The pods are roasted and the seeds picked out and eaten. (The pods are not eaten.) The roasted seeds are ground into flour and sprinkled on salads and sandwiches.

Edible parts

Gum, grub, seeds, flowers

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. The seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat. Normally this is by putting the seeds in very hot water and letting the water cool down overnight then planting the seeds immediately.

Plants flower August to September.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Acacia longifolia var. sophorae (Labill.) F. Muell.; Acacia longifolia var. sophorae (Labill.) Benth.; Acacia sophora (Labill.) R. Br. [Spelling variant]; Acacia sophorae (Labill.) R. Br.; Acacia sophorina (Labill.) R. Br. [Spelling variant]; Cuparilla sophorae (Labill.) Raf.; Mimosa sophorae Labill.; Phyllodoce sophora Link; Racosperma sophorae (Labill.) C. Mart.;