common names: Maidens wattle
type collected: at Karuah river NSW by W Bauerlen in 1892
habit: small to medium tree, 5-12 m, may grow up to 15 m, stems erect, phyllodes more drooping, can grow into a quite majestic tree.
foliage: Mid-green thin phyllodes, 8-18 cm x 5-20 mm, slightly curved or sickle shaped, tapering at both ends with many fine veins running lengthways, new growth golden to reddish and pubescent. Young phyllodes can be more elongated and thinner.
flowers: 2-5 cm long interrupted spikes, pale yellow, flowering time can be variable, from late summer in the north of it’s distribution to autumn in the south, may flower after good rains.
pods: 5-15 cm x 3-5 mm, woody, highly twisted and coiled, longitudinal striations running along the pod and minute grey hairs on surface.
seed: 3-5 mm long, elliptic, black, longitudinal in pod. Seed stalk orange and not folded around seed.
distribution: relatively common in NSW rainforest margins and wetter forests from Nowra to SE Qld, especially north from the Illawarra district, isolated occurrences in E Vic near Orbost. Coast to the ranges.
notes: related to a. longifolia, a. floribunda and a. longissima, but may be distinguished from these. A relatively long lived species, >30 yrs, may be subject to borer attack and may also sucker.