Key points
- Wattles, species in genus Acacia, have a long history in Australia and are valued by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
- The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia’s national floral emblem, but there are over 1000 species of Australian wattle and not all are green and gold.
- We've completed digitising the Australian National Herbarium and images can now be accessed from all over the world.
Species in genus Acacia, more commonly known as wattles, are an Australian icon. The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia’s national floral emblem, and we even celebrate Wattle Day on 1 September every year.
But wattles are not exclusive to Australia. There are around 1350 species of Acacia found throughout the world, in Australia, Africa, throughout the Asia-Pacific region and in the Americas. However, our claim to wattles is not in vain, as Australia is home to close to 1000 of these species.
1. Wattle they mean to us?
While the Golden Wattle was officially proclaimed Australia’s national floral emblem in 1988, it was nationally celebrated long before that and holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous Australians.
During World War I, wattle sprigs and badges were sold to raise money for the war effort and organisations such as the Red Cross. Later, wattle became a symbol of remembrance for Australians who died while serving overseas.
The wattle also served as the inspiration for Australian sporting colours of green and gold, with the green for the wattle foliage and the gold of the Golden Wattle’s blooms.
Each denomination of the new Australian polymer bank notes features a different species of native Australian wattle and bird. The new $100 banknote features the Golden Wattle, the $50, Acacia humifusa, the $20, Box-Leaved Wattle (Acacia buxifolia), the $10, Bramble Wattle (Acacia victoriae), and the $5, Prickly Moses (Acacia verticillata).
2. A carpet of yellow puffs?
Think of wattle, and the Golden Wattle with its round yellow puffs is likely to spring to mind. But not only do some wattles come in completely different colours, but wattle flowers also come in a second form: cylindrical spikes.
Cinnamon Wattle (Acacia leprosa) has a red flowered form called Scarlet Blaze and Purpleflowered Wattle (Acacia purpureopetala) has pink and purple flowers. However, most wattles are cream, yellow or gold.
Individual wattle flowers are arranged in clusters that are either globular heads or cylindrical spikes. Clusters may contain as few as 3 individual flowers, or as many as 130 or more.
An example of a wattle with globular heads is the Golden Wreath Wattle (Acacia saligna). It is found mainly around the coastal areas of the southern half of Australia and is known as Ngaamaal in Wudjari. An example of a wattle with cylindrical spikes is the Shaggy Wattle (Acacia lasiocalyx) which is found in south-west Western Australia and is known as Wilyoor-Waar in Wudjari and Noongar/Nyungar.
3. The significance of the Gidgee Tree in Indigenous Culture
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, wattles have many uses, such as food, medicine, tools, decoration and as a seasonal indicator.
Sophie Gilbey is an Alywarr woman with roots in the border region of the Northern Territory and far Northwest Queensland. She is a passionate conservationist who has dedicated her career to preserving the environment. Currently based in Adelaide, Sophie is a Research Projects Officer in our Ecohydrology team. She draws on Traditional Knowledge passed down by community Elders and western science to enrich her work.
Previously as an Indigenous Ranger, Sophie diligently surveyed the flora and fauna within the group's territory, deepening her understanding of native plant species. She reflected on the significance of the Gidgee tree (Acacia cambagei), in western Queensland, the Northern Territory, and northern New South Wales.
“The Gidgee tree holds a significant place in the region, much like the river red gum, and is recognised for its iconic presence in the bush,” Sophie said.
“During rainy periods, the Gidgee tree emits a distinctive scent that can be detected from a great distance, earning it the nickname ‘Stinking Gidgee’ or Stinking Wattle."
Sophie explained that traditional uses of the Gidgee tree in some Aboriginal groups include using its sap to make a sweet drink and as a medicine for toothaches.
“Its strong termite-resistant wood is highly valued by some mobs for campfires, fence posts, and traditional tools and weapons,” Sophie added.
Sophie noted that a similar-looking wattle tree, the Georgina Gidgee (Acacia georginae), can be toxic and especially poisonous to livestock.
Please note that traditional uses of wattles may vary across Indigenous communities, and this information is based on Sophie’s personal experiences and knowledge.
4. Leaving the leaves behind
All wattle seedlings start out with fern-like leaves. Some wattles, such as the Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) retain these feathery fern-like leaves for their lifetime, but a large group of wattles ditch leaves in favour of what are called phyllodes.
Though they do the photosynthetic work of a true leaf, phyllodes are instead flattened leaf stalks which look like leaves.
"Well, wattle be the point of that?" you ask.
Phyllodes are thought to be an adaptation to dry conditions. They lose less water than true leaves, enabling wattles to spread to the drier parts of the Australian continent.
A small number of species have neither true leaves nor phyllodes but have modified stems called cladodes. These gather energy from the sun without needing leaves or phyllodes.
5. Wattles beyond borders
Wattleseed may now be a fairly common ingredient in foods like biscuits, cakes and muesli but did you know wattle seeds have been into space?
Back in 2020, our Australian Tree Seed Centre (ATSC) supplied Golden Wattle seeds from a wild population in Victoria for a trip into space. The wattle seeds spent six months at the International Space Station before returning safely to Earth.
Acacias are an important source of timber, charcoal, firewood in developing countries, particularly across Asia. The ATSC has played a key role in assisting these countries to select suitable species and providing information about how to propagate them.
We have also completed our digitisation of the Australian National Herbarium and images are available on our Data Access Portal. They can now be accessed by researchers and curious tree enthusiasts all over the world!