Acacia baileyana

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Acacieae
Genus: Acacia
Species: Acacia baileyana
Name

Acacia baileyana F.Muell., 1888: 168
Synonyms

Acacia baileyana var. aurea Pescott
Acacia baileyana var. purpurea L.H.Bailey & E.Z.Bailey
Racosperma baileyanum (F.Muell.) Pedley

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
Acacia baileyana

Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
New South Wales
Introduced into:
California, Cape Provinces, Colombia, Costa Rica, Florida, India, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Mexico Southwest, Morocco, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Northern Provinces, Queensland, South Australia, Swaziland, Victoria, Western Australia, Zimbabwe

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Mueller, F. 1888. Description of some hitherto unknown Australian plants. Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 24: 168–174. BHL Reference page.

Additional references

Tindale, M.D. & Kodela, P.G. 2001. Acacia baileyana. Flora of Australia 11A: 224–225.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Acacia baileyana in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Jul 25. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Acacia baileyana. Published online. Accessed: Jul 25 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Acacia baileyana. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul 25.
Hassler, M. Jul. Acacia baileyana. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. Jul. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: Jul 25 {{{3}}}. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Acacia baileyana in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
English: Cootamundra Wattle
suomi: Kulta-akaasia
italiano: Mimosa

Acacia baileyana or Cootamundra wattle is a shrub or tree in the genus Acacia. The scientific name of the species honours the botanist Frederick Manson Bailey. It is indigenous to a very small area in southern inland New South Wales, comprising Temora, Cootamundra, Stockinbingal and Bethungra districts. However, it has been widely planted in other Australian states and territories. In many areas of Victoria, it has become naturalised and is regarded as a weed, outcompeting indigenous Victorian species.

Almost all wattles have cream to golden flowers. The small flowers are arranged in spherical to cylindrical inflorescences, with only the stamens prominent. Wattles have been extensively introduced into New Zealand.

Uses
Profile of a Cootamundra wattle in Canberra, ACT

A. baileyana is used in Europe in the cut flower industry. It is also used as food for bees in the production of honey.[4] American urban landscape designer Renée Gunter uses this plant in her South Los Angeles lawn as a drought-resistant alternative to thirstier plants.[5]

Less than 0.02% alkaloids were found in a chemical analysis of Acacia baileyana.[6]
Cultivation

This plant is adaptable and easy to grow. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7] Unfortunately, it has an ability to naturalise (i.e. escape) into surrounding bushland. Also, it hybridises with some other wattles, notably the rare and endangered Sydney Basin species Acacia pubescens.

A prostrate weeping form is in cultivation. Its origin is unknown, but it is a popular garden plant, with its cascading horizontal branches good for rockeries.[8] The fine foliage of the original Cootamundra wattle is grey-green, but a blue-purple foliaged form, known as 'Purpurea' is very popular.[9]
Use of colour

The colour Cootamundra wattle is used currently by the Australian Capital Territory Fire Brigade as their colour scheme for firefighting appliances.

References

"Acacia baileyana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
Mueller, F.J.H. von (1888) Descriptions of some hitherto unknown Australian plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 24(2): 168.
"Acacia baileyana". LegumeWeb. International Legume Database & Information Service.
"Uses of Australian Acacias". World Wide Wattle. 29 May 2013.
Lodi News-Sentinel, Oct 12, 2007, Bettijane Levine, Los Angeles Times, Drought resistant plants, Retrieved Aug. 18,2007
Hegnauer, Robert (1996). Caesalpinioideae und Mimosoideae. Springer. p. 336. ISBN 978-3-7643-5165-6.
"Acacia baileyana AGM". Plant Selector. Royal Horticultural Society.
Stewart 2001, p. 156

Stewart 2001, p. 157

Cited text
Stewart, Angus (2001). Gardening on the Wild Side. Sydney: ABC Books. ISBN 978-0-7333-0791-1.