Wattles of Victoria and Tasmania
Wattles (Acacia) are among the most vibrant plants in the southern Australian bush, with their iconic yellow blooms particularly visible in late winter and spring. As the largest genus of flowering plant in Australia, they are one of the most resilient, recognisable and culturally significant native plants. However, they can be difficult to identify at a species level.
This comprehensive guide to all 121 species and subspecies of wattles found in Victoria and Tasmania includes notes on the habitat, distribution and special properties of each species. Identification keys, high-quality field photos and distribution maps enable easy identification, and fascinating detail on the etymology of species names, their use as food and the taxonomic history of the group is also included. This guide will inform and inspire botanists, conservationists and wattle enthusiasts.
Neville Walsh worked as a botanist at the National Herbarium of Victoria, initially as a survey botanist and later concentrating on plant taxonomy and conservation. He has named over 130 plant species in a range of families and co-edited the four-volume Flora of Victoria. He retired in 2022.
Daniel Murphy is a systematic botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. He has a particular interest in the evolutionary history of Australia’s flora and the historical connections of this flora to other parts of the world, and has focused much of his research on Acacia and related legumes.
Arthur Bertram Court (1927–2012) was a dedicated botanist known for his expertise and passion for the Acacia genus. He served as the Australian Botanical Liaison Officer (ABLO) at the Kew Gardens in London from 1966 to 1967, took on the role of Curator of the Herbarium at the Canberra Botanic Gardens (later the Australian National Botanic Gardens) in 1974 and became the Assistant Director of National Collections in 1983. The plant Acacia courtii – commonly known as the North Brother Wattle – was named in his honour.
Alan Gibb (1943–2022) was a farmer, bushman and self-taught photographer. Known for his deep knowledge of flora and fauna, his wildlife photography has been exhibited and used for various publications. He led nature tours through outback Australia for many years where his particular love of Australian wattles was nurtured. The Mt Typo Wattle (Acacia boormanii subsp. gibba) was named in his honour.
