Leslie Massey
Australia is an island nation in Oceania, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia. The national animal and national flower of a country are symbols that represent its people and culture. Australia's national animal is the kangaroo, which is also featured on its coat of arms alongside the emu, another native animal. The national flower of Australia is the Wattle Flower, also known as the Golden Wattle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Wattle, Golden Wattle |
| Scientific Name | Acacia pycnantha, Acacia pycnantha Benth |
| Colour | Saffron, Yellow |
| Height | 4-8 m, 25 feet |
| National Emblem | Order of Australia |
| National Colours | Gold and Green |
| Symbolism | Unity |
| National Wattle Day | First day of September |
| Medicinal Properties | Used to treat headaches, skin ailments, aches, pains, infections, rheumatism, colds, and toothaches |
| Commercial Use | Bark contains tannin |
| Found in | New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, Canberra |
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What You'll Learn
The Golden Wattle is Australia's national flower
The Golden Wattle, also known by its scientific name Acacia pycnantha, is Australia's national flower. The flower was discovered by explorer Thomas Mitchell in 1842. It was later described by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. The Golden Wattle is native to Australia's capital, Canberra, and can also be found in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
The Golden Wattle is a culturally important plant for Aboriginal people and has been for far longer than it has been Australia's floral emblem. Its seeds were traditionally ground into flour and eaten as a paste or cooked on hot ash as a damper. The medicinal properties of the Acacia were also used to treat headaches, skin ailments, aches, pains, infections, rheumatism, colds, and toothaches.
The flower has a bright, saffron hue and a strong fragrance. It grows on an evergreen shrub that can reach up to 25 feet in height. The shrub thrives in hot and dry climates and is well-adapted to the Australian environment. The Golden Wattle is a resilient flower, symbolic of the toughness and resilience of Australians.
The Golden Wattle is showcaseed on Australia's postal stamps and the emblem of the Order of Australia. Its petals are gold, and its stalks are green, reflecting Australia's national colours. National Wattle Day is celebrated each year on the first day of September, a tradition that has been observed since 1913.
The Australian Institute of Botanical Science actively works to preserve Wattle populations in nature, utilising the National Herbarium of NSW and the Australian Plantbank. The National Herbarium holds over 45,000 Acacia herbarium specimens, representing 1,096 unique Acacia species. The Golden Wattle is not just a symbol of national pride but also an important part of Australia's natural heritage.
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The Acacia tree is iconic to Australia
The Acacia tree, commonly known as the wattle, is a genus of about 1,084 species of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. The Acacia tree is iconic to Australia, but it is also native to Africa and some parts of South America. The Acacia tree was first described by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773.
The Acacia tree is particularly iconic in Australia, where there are about 960 native species. The most notable of these is the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), which is Australia's floral emblem. The Golden Wattle is native to Australia's Capital Territory, Canberra, and is also found in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia. It produces some of the most fragrant flowers, which are used in perfumes, bath herbs, and potpourris. The Golden Wattle is also culturally important to Aboriginal people, who have used the seeds and the tree's medicinal properties for various purposes.
The Acacia tree is also significant in Australia's history and culture. The name "Acacia" comes from the Neo-Latin term "akakia", which was used in antiquity to describe a preparation extracted from Vachellia nilotica, the original type species growing in Roman Egypt. The word "wattle" may originate from the proto-Germanic word meaning "to weave". In Old English, "watul" referred to the flexible woody vines, branches, and sticks that were interwoven to form walls, roofs, and fences.
Acacia trees are also important economically. Several species yield valuable timber, such as the Australian Blackwood (A. melanoxylon) and the Yarran (A. omalophylla). The bark of most Acacias is rich in tannin, which is used in tanning, dyes, inks, and pharmaceuticals. The Acacia tree is also an important food source for many animals, such as the imperial hairstreak (Jalmenus evagoras) and the native house gecko in Australia.
The Acacia tree is undoubtedly iconic to Australia, with its cultural, historical, and economic significance. Its beauty, versatility, and importance to the nation's identity make it a beloved symbol of Australia.
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The Golden Wattle is native to Canberra
The national flower of Australia is the Golden Wattle, also known as Acacia pycnantha. This bright yellow flower is native to Canberra, the capital of Australia, as well as to other parts of the country, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
The Golden Wattle is a culturally significant plant for the Aboriginal people of Australia, who have used it for various purposes for centuries. The seeds of the Golden Wattle were traditionally ground into flour and prepared as a paste or cooked on hot ash. The plant also has medicinal properties and has been used to treat headaches, skin ailments, aches, pains, infections, rheumatism, colds, and toothaches.
The Golden Wattle typically grows to a height of 8 meters (26 feet) and features phyllodes, or flattened leaf stalks, instead of true leaves. It thrives in hotter and drier climates and is well-adapted to the Australian environment. The flowering season for the Golden Wattle usually occurs from July to November, with peak flowering in July and August.
The Golden Wattle holds a special place in Australia's national identity. The Australian Coat of Arms includes a wreath of wattle, and the green and gold colours often associated with the country are inspired by the hues of the Golden Wattle. The Golden Wattle has also been featured on Australian stamps and was included in Meghan Markle's wedding veil to represent Australia.
The Australian Institute of Botanical Science actively works to preserve and promote the growth of the Golden Wattle. Efforts are made to maintain thriving populations of the Golden Wattle in nature, utilizing resources such as the National Herbarium of NSW and the Australian Plantbank. The Golden Wattle is not just a symbol of Australia but also a testament to the country's commitment to conserving its natural heritage.
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Wattle flowers are considered weeds in some nations
Australia's national flower is the Golden Wattle, also known as Acacia pycnantha. It is a tree of the family Fabaceae, growing to a height of 8 metres and bearing profuse, fragrant, golden flowers in late winter and spring. The species is native to southeastern Australia, where it is found in the understorey of open eucalypt forests on dry, shallow soils.
While the Golden Wattle is a beloved emblem in Australia, it has become a weed in several other parts of the world. In Australia itself, the species has spread beyond its original range, becoming particularly prevalent in New South Wales, specifically around Sydney and the Central Coast region. It has also spread in Tasmania, where it has become weedy in bushland near Hobart.
Outside of Australia, the Golden Wattle has become naturalised in South Africa, Tanzania, Italy, Portugal, Sardinia, India, Indonesia, and New Zealand. In South Africa, it is considered an invasive alien plant, and efforts are made to uproot it to prevent water depletion and protect local flora. The species has also been introduced to other parts of Africa, where it is cultivated as an emergency food source due to its ability to thrive in dry conditions.
The Golden Wattle's ability to spread aggressively and establish itself in new areas is likely due to its nitrogen-fixing abilities, which allow it to improve soil fertility, and its tolerance for a wide range of environmental conditions, including high and low rainfall, poor soils, salt, and wind. Its seeds are long-lived and can persist in the soil for more than five years, making it challenging to control its spread.
The proliferation of the Golden Wattle in new regions can have ecological implications. As a fast-growing and maturing species, it can outcompete native vegetation for resources and impact the growth of low-growing vegetation. Control methods such as hand-pulling small plants, cutting and using herbicides, injection of chemicals, and stump treatment are employed to manage its spread in areas where it is considered a weed.
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Wattle flowers are worn to show unity and national pride
Wattle flowers, also known as Golden Wattle or Acacia pycnantha, are Australia's national flower. They have a bright yellow or saffron hue, sweet-smelling heads, and long stamens. Wattle flowers are native to Australia, with over 960 species of Acacia found in the country. They are considered culturally important, with a history of use by Aboriginal people for food and medicine.
Wattle Day, celebrated annually on the first day of September, has been observed since 1913, even before the flower was officially recognised as Australia's national floral emblem in 1988. Australians also plant flowering wattle shrubs in their homes as a symbol of national pride.
The wattle flower is also showcased on the nation's postal stamps and the emblem of the Order of Australia. Its commercial value lies in its bark, which contains high levels of tannin. The flower is also used in perfumes, bath herbs, and potpourris.
The Australian Institute of Botanical Science works to ensure the continued thriving of wattle populations in nature, with the help of the National Herbarium of NSW and the Australian Plantbank.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia does not have an official national animal, but the kangaroo and emu are considered unofficial national animals and appear on the country's coat of arms.
Golden wattle, or Acacia Pycnantha, is Australia's national flower. It was proclaimed on 19 August 1988.
The kangaroo and emu symbolise progress as neither animal can easily walk backwards. The golden wattle tree flowers in late winter and spring, showing beautiful golden-yellow blossoms.
Australia has several other official and unofficial symbols. The flag of Australia, first used on 3 September 1901, features the Southern Cross constellation and the Commonwealth Star. The didgeridoo is an unofficial national musical instrument, and the meat pie is a popular national dish.
The kangaroo and emu are endemic to Australia and are unique symbols of the country. The golden wattle is also unique to Australia and is known for its golden-yellow blossoms.
