common names: coast wattle
type collected: by Labillardiere in Tas, 1807
habit: a low, frequently prostrate shrub, 1-4 m, can be quite twisted and tangled, especially on exposed sites.
foliage: elliptic to ovoid phyllodes, 50-100mm x 12-35mm, length < 6 x width, gland 2-5 mm from base, 2-5 more prominent longitudinal nerves, generally quite thick and tangled growth.
flowers: bright yellow 20-40 mm long spikes, in spring aug-nov.
pods: somewhat curled and twisted pods, 30-100mm x 3-6mm, opening to reveal ripe seeds in oct-nov.
seeds: 4-6 mm x 3-4 mm, orange seed stalk folded a few times, not around seed, longitudinal in pod.
distribution: found along the coast from SE Qld to E SA and Tas, very common on coastal sand dunes and headlands, behind beaches extending into nearby forests. Widely cultivated in other situations.
notes: Quite often classified as a. longifolia var. sophorae, and not treated as a separate species, they are very closely related. Widely cultivated in many places, quite fast growing and can grow in exposed situations, thus being very good for stabilisation of sand dunes and other coastal areas. Green pods steamed and seeds picked out and eaten by Aborigenes, forming an important part of the diet of some clans on the sth coast of NSW and probably others extending into Vic, SA and Tas.