About Acacia elongata Sieber ex DC.
Scientific name: Acacia elongata Sieber ex DC.
Description: Acacia elongata (common name swamp wattle) is an erect or spreading shrub that usually grows up to 5 m (16 ft) tall. It has yellow-ribbed branchlets, sometimes with tiny pressed hairs against the surface. Its phyllodes are rigid, linear to narrowly lance-shaped (with the narrower end at the base), straight to slightly curved. They are typically 50–160 mm (2.0–6.3 in) long and up to 24 mm (0.94 in) wide, thinly leathery, with 3 raised veins and a small gland near the base.
Flowers are arranged in two or three spherical heads held in racemes 1–14 mm (0.039–0.551 in) long, on peduncles 5–16 mm (0.20–0.63 in) long. Each flower head is 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter, holding 20 to 42 light golden yellow flowers. Flowering occurs from July to October.
After flowering, it produces linear, straight, thinly leathery, glabrous pods that grow up to 90 mm (3.5 in) long and 3.5–6 mm (0.14–0.24 in) wide. The pods are strongly raised over the contained seeds. Seeds are broadly elliptic to oblong, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, glossy dark brown, with an aril at one end.
Distribution: This species is native to north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, occurring from near Kingscliff in the north, south to near Eden, and west inland to Wagga Wagga. It grows along watercourses and in swamps, in sandy soil within woodland and heath habitats. It has also become naturalized in a small number of locations in the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.
Use in horticulture: Acacia elongata is not widely cultivated, though smaller forms are sometimes grown in gardens. Plants grow quickly, and flower within one to two years when grown from seed. It can grow in a range of soils as long as the soil is reasonably moist, and tolerates both full sun and dappled shade. It can be propagated from seed, but seed requires pretreatment via either scarification or soaking in boiling water. This shrub is suitable for poorly drained areas, and tolerates light frosts and salt spray.
