Umbrella bush, Small Cooba Wattle
Acacia ligulata

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 native to inland Australia. It occurs on dry alkaline soil or coastal sand dunes. It prefers open sunny positions. It is resistant to drought and frost. Fire stimulates the germination of seedlings. It grows in areas with annual rainfalls between 120-1,200 mm. It can grow in arid places. In the Inland Botanical Gardens Mildura.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Israel, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Tunisia

How it is used for food

The seeds are ground into flour then eaten. It often has an edible grub in the roots. The white gum is eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, gum, grub

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. Seed needs 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.

The flowers are produced in August to October and the pods from October to November. Flowering can also occur at other times of the year. This depends on rainfall.

Its other names

Local names

Sandhill Wattle, Watarka

Synonyms

Acacia bivenosa DC subsp. wayi (Maiden) Pedley; Racosperma ligulatum (Cunn. ex Benth.) Pedley;