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Acacia ligulata is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is a dense, rounded shrub with bright yellow flower heads and is widespread in all states of mainland Australia. Its common names include sandhill wattle, umbrella bush, marpoo, dune wattle, small coobah, wirra, and watarrka (also spelt watarka). (2025). 9781922027603, State Herbarium of South Australia. ISBN 9781922027603
Common names include sandhill wattle, umbrella bush, marpoo, dune wattle, small coobah,Cunningham, G. M., Mulham, W. E., Milthorpe, P. L., & Leigh, J. H. (1992). Plants of western New South Wales. Melbourne & Sydney, Australia: Inkata Press. p. 365. wirra,Moore, P. (2005). A guide to plants of inland Australia. Sydney, Australia: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd. p. 331. and watarrka. The latter name (pronounced what-ARR-kah) is the Luritja language word for the species, and gives its name to the Aboriginal (Luritja and Arrernte people) name for Kings Canyon, as well as the Watarrka National Park, in the Northern Territory.
The , appearing like leaves, are light to blue green, usually linear-oblong, slightly curved, 3–10 cm long and 4-10mm wide, thick and hairless, and wrinkled during dry periods. They have a prominent yellowish mid-vein, lateral veins not apparent.The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. PlantNET - The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved June 2012 [1] The tip of the phyllode is obtuse with a mucro, a small hard point,Greig, D. (2002). A photographic guide to wildflowers of outback Australia. Sydney, Australia: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd. p. 71. pointing downward. Two to four glands are found below the centre of the phyllode and near the mucro.
Yellow to orange globular flower heads of 5-6mm diameter, singular or 2 to 5 in short axillary racemes, sit on sparsely pubescent peduncles 4-10mm long. Each flower head consists of about 20 minute flowers.
The seed pods, legumes, are light brown and curved, 5–10 cm long and 5-10mm wide, constricted between the seeds and breaking easily into one-seeded segments. The stalk of the seed pod is orange to red. The seeds appear black and oval shaped, up to 3.5x3.5mm in size, situated longitudinal within the seed pod.
Charles Sturt called the habitat ‘stupendous and almost insurmountable sand-ridges of a fiery red’.Keith, D. (2004). Ocean shores to desert dunes – The native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT. Hurstville NSW: Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW). pp. 294-295. This area of north-west New South Wales, the Sand Plain Mulga Shrublands, supports an open cover of shrubs and tussock grasses.
A. ligulata is found on sand dunes, on the fringes of salt lakes, on floodplains, in Acacia aneura and bluebush communities, in woodlands, in mallee communities.
It is found in the hottest and driest climates of Australia with rainfall of less than 200mm and survives light frost. It is an indicative species in sand plain mulga shrublands and was used in an emissions bioassay at Olympic Dam.Read, J. L., Kovac, K-J., & Fatchen, T. J., (2002), ‘Biohyets’: A holistic method for demonstrating the extent and severity of environmental impacts. p. 7.
Its roots are host to witchetty grub and food for the larvae of the butterfly Nacaduba biocellata.Government of South Australia, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. eFloraSA. Retrieved June 2012 [6] The phyllodes are eaten by cattle and often defoliated by rabbits around the lower part of the plant. Kangaroos and livestock use the plants as shelter. Herbivores grazing on the seedlings can severely limit regeneration.Auld, T. D. (1995). The impact of herbivores on regeneration in four trees from arid Australia. The Rangeland Journal, 17(2), pp. 213-227.
Indigenous Australians have used the plant by mixing its ashes with the dried and powdered leaves of Duboisia hopwoodii to prepare a stimulant chewing mixture (pituri) for trading. Gum produced by this species was used for consumption, and the seeds were roasted and ground to make damper. Leaves and bark were used for medicinal purposes, to treat colds, chest infections, and general illnesses.Palombo, E. W., & Semple, S. J., (2001). Antibacterial activity of traditional Australian medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 77, p. 153.
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Description
Acacia ligulata grows as an erect or spreading shrub, 2 to 4 metres tallHarden, G. J.. (2002). Flora of New South Wales.Vol.2. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales Press Ltd. p. 450. and 3 metres across,Rotherham, E. R., Briggs, B. G., Blaxell, D. F., & Carolin, R. C. (1975). Australian Flora in colour – Flowers and plants of New South Wales and southern Queensland. Sydney, Australia: A. H. & A. W. Reed Pty Ltd. p. 150. sometimes dome-shaped, often branching from the ground. The bark is often grooved at the base, but is otherwise smooth. Its branchlets are angular with yellowish ribs, often with hair.Tame, T. (1992). Acacias of southeast Australia. Kenthurst, Australia: Kangaroo Press Pty Ltd. p. 136.
Taxonomy
A. ligulata belongs to the A. bivenosa group of 12 species. Previously considered a variety of A. salicina, differing by its rigid branches, undivided crown, and seed pod characteristics.Baumer, M., (1983). EMASAR phase II. Notes on trees and shrubs in arid and semi-arid regions. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 20. Earlier literature mentions A. williamsonii as a synonym, World Wide Wattle. Retrieved June 2012 other literature places the species in the family Mimosaceae.
Distribution and habitat
A. ligulata is one of the most widespread species of Acacia in Australia, common to central and southern Australia, World Wide Wattle. Retrieved June 2012 mostly south of the Tropic of Capricorn in arid areas.
Ecology
A. ligulata grows in dense shrub communities on sand dunes, otherwise singly scattered. Fast-growing, it stabilises sand dunes and regenerates quickly after disturbance, such as overgrazing. It is known for potential weediness due to rapid regrowth.
Reproduction and dispersal
A. ligulata flowers during May to November,Western Australian Herbarium (1998). FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Environment and Conservation. Retrieved June 2012 [7] depending on the region, odd flowers occurring throughout the year. Seeds are produced between November and January. They have diaspores with fleshy appendages indicating dispersal by birds, including the red wattlebird,Davidson, D. W. & Morton, S. R., (1984). Dispersal Adaptations of Some Acacia Species in the Australian Arid Zone. Ecology, 65(4). pp. 1038-1051. and Meat ants (myrmecochory). Ants can transport the seeds up to 180m and disperse it within an area of 3000 m2 around their nest.Whitney, K. D., (2002). Dispersal for distance? Acacia ligulata seeds and meat ants Iridomyrmex viridiaeneu. Austral Ecology, 27. pp. 589-595.
Uses
A. ligulata is used as a hedge and windbreak, to stabilise sandy areas, for revegetation and erosion control, also in areas with salinity or alkaline conditions. It can be grown from cuttings and has been used as emergency stock fodder.
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See also
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