Acacia maitlandii
Encyclopedia
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.
s and spearthrower
s, 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.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. 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
Ferdinand von Mueller
Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...
in 1863. The plant is named for an early European explorer of Australia's Northwest, Maitland Brown
Maitland Brown
Maitland Brown was an explorer, politician and pastoralist in colonial Western Australia. He is best remembered as the leader of the La Grange expedition, which searched for and recovered the bodies of three white settlers murdered by Indigenous Australians, and subsequently killed a number of...
, who collect the type specimen.
Acacia maitlandii is found in northern regions of all mainland states of Australia, except Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and is not considered to be threatened with extinction.
Uses
The species is used to make boomerangBoomerang
A boomerang is a flying tool with a curved shape used as a weapon or for sport.-Description:A boomerang is usually thought of as a wooden device, although historically boomerang-like devices have also been made from bones. Modern boomerangs used for sport are often made from carbon fibre-reinforced...
s and spearthrower
Spearthrower
Spearthrower may refer to:*The American atlatl.*The Australian woomera....
s, 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
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is the governmental body responsible for developing food standards for Australia and New Zealand .FSANZ develops food standards after consulting with other government agencies and stakeholders...
. The product is found to very high in fats, over half by weight.