Acacia longifolia

Family: Mimosaceae

Habitat: Open forest, woodland, swamp edges

Uses: Seeds of some acacias are edible, also some gums.

References: Baker and Corringham, Cherikoff, Robinson

About Sydney Golden Wattle

The Aboriginies in and around Sydney used the seeds of at least three species, Acacia longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle), Acacia sophorae (Coastal Wattle), and Acacia suaveolens (Sweet Wattle). These were eaten "green" after steaming rather than being milled into a flour as was common in the desert regions of Australia. This method cooking the seed pods over a fire until they have steamed and eating the seeds as westerners would eat peas.

The gums of some species were also used as foods. These were generally the species with lighter coloured gums.

Acacia longifolia (shown below) has edible seeds.

Acacia longifolia, Sydney Golden Wattle. Springwood, Blue Mountains NSW.

Acacia longifolia, Sydney Golden Wattle. Springwood, Blue Mountains NSW.

See Also

Australian Mammals
Australian Birds
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces

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