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Acacia microbotrya Benth.
Manna Wattle

Reference
London J.Bot. 1:353 (1842)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Mixed (Native in Part of Range, Naturalised Elsewhere)
Name Status
Current

Bushy shrub or tree, to 7 m high, phyllodes acute to acuminate, 7-14 cm long, 5-20 mm wide, heads globular. Fl. yellow-cream, Mar to Aug. Clay loam or sandy loam, granite. Outcrops, near watercourses, salt lakes, road verges.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 10 December 2003

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions
Dandaragan Plateau, Fitzgerald, Katanning, Lesueur Sandplain, Merredin, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest, Western Mallee.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Beverley, Boddington, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Brookton, Broomehill-Tambellup, Bruce Rock, Bunbury, Busselton, Coorow, Corrigin, Cranbrook, Cuballing, Cunderdin, Dandaragan, Dowerin, Dumbleyung, Fremantle, Gingin, Gnowangerup, Goomalling, Harvey, Jerramungup, Katanning, Kellerberrin, Kent, Kulin, Lake Grace, Melville, Merredin, Moora, Morawa, Mukinbudin, Mundaring, Murray, Narembeen, Narrogin, Nedlands, Northam, Perth, Pingelly, Quairading, Ravensthorpe, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Swan, Three Springs, Toodyay, Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wandering, West Arthur, Wickepin, Williams, Wongan-Ballidu, Wyalkatchem, York.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

General Biology. Growth form. Shrub/Small tree. Reproduction. Seed. Dispersal. Water, bird, ants, soil movement, garden refuse. Vegetative regeneration strategy. Resprouts, produces root suckers. Seedbank persistence. Long, 5+ years. Fire response. Fire stimulates mass germination of soil stored seed. Adult plants can resprout from base and from root suckers following fire.

Notes. Root suckers form with minimal root disturbance.

Additional information. Origin. Western Australia. History of use/introduction. Garden escape, restoration plantings.

Suggested method of management and control. Hand pull seedling. For mature plants apply 250 ml Access® in 15 L of diesel to basal 50 cm of trunk (basal bark), or drill and fill with 50% glyphosate. Older plants can be ringbarked. Monitor site for recruitment from seedbank. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

Management Calendar

Calendar Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Comments
Flowering     O Y Y Y Y O          
Fruiting             Y Y Y Y Y    
Optimum Treatment O O O Y Y Y O O O O O    

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References

  • Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
  • Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
  • Maslin, B.R. (2001) Wattle: acacias of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.
  • Maslin, B.R., Tame, T., Coleman, H., McDonald, M.W., Spokes, T., O'Leary, M., Walsh, N.G., Kodela, P.G. & Thiele, K. (2001) World Wide Wattle, AcaciaSearch - Acacia microbotrya. CSIRO PUBLISHING / Australian Biological Resources Study / Department of Conservation and Land Management Western Australia URL: http://www.worldwidewattle.com - Accessed September 2008.