Mainly west of Olympic Highway on lower country and plains.
Australia:
Qld, NSW, Vic.
Habitat:
Major river floodplains, and the Riverine Plain, sometimes as dominant species on heavy clay soils. Often in large stands.
Habit:
Erect or spreading tree, 5-13 m high. Rounded grey-green crown of conspicuously drooping 'leaves' and branchlets. Fissured grey bark.
Similar Species:
Site Preference:
Characteristics:
although very old trees damaged by lopping and may die. Prone to use by the Bag-shelter moth, which occasionally kills
Flowering:
Golden-yellow, mainly summer to autumn. Irregular, depending on season.
Seed Collection:
Early Oct to Jan.
Propagation:
From seed (6-28 viable seeds per gram). Immerse seeds in hot water at 90oC for about one minute, before drying and sowing.
Regeneration:
From seed if livestock fenced out. Coppices after fire.
Timber:
Excellent Fuel. Was used extensively. Reasonable quality. Hard, heavy, dark and attractively marked, with violet-like fragrance. Used for fence posts and manufacturing trinket boxes and similar items.
Shade and Shelter:
Useful medium-level cover in windbreaks.
Land Protection:
Legume - improves soil fertility through 'fixing' nitrogen.
Wildlife:
Excellent habitat. Provides useful supplies of pollen. Often eaten by Procession caterpillars. Seeds eaten by parrots.
Ornamental:
Very attractive ornamental, due to weeping grey foliage.
Other:
Boomerangs made from wood. Valuable drought fodder.
Note: The following information presented is only a guide, as plant characteristics vary depending on provenance (the plant's locality).
Site/Preferred Habitat :
floodplains/ flats
Rainfall(mm) :
250
Growth Rate :
slow
Tolerates :
frost
Resents :
Uses & Comments :
windbreak; fuel, fixes nitrogen; timber; fodder. Hosts Bag Shelter Moth.
