Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Acacia maitlandii | Order Fabales Genus Acacia Rank Species | |
Similar Acacia murrayana, Acacia cyperophylla, Acacia inaequilatera, Acacia brachystachya, Acacia pruinocarpa | ||
Acacia maitlandii, also known as Maitland's wattle, is a perennial tree native to Australia. It has an open and spindly habit, with a height between 0.7 - 3.0 metres. Flowers are yellow and occur sometime between May and October. The favoured soil type is red sand, or stony ground, the habitat is sandy or stony plains, and on hills.
The species was first described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1863. The plant is named for an early European explorer of Australia's Northwest, Maitland Brown, who collect the type specimen.
Acacia maitlandii is found in northern regions of all mainland states of Australia, except Victoria, and is not considered to be threatened with extinction.
Uses
The species is used to make boomerangs and spearthrowers, the gum produced is edible. The tree is called Garrga in the languages of the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people. The seeds have been identified, analysed, and monitored, as a 'wild harvested Australian indigenous food', by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. The product is found to very high in fats, over half by weight.