About Acacia ulicifolia (Salisb.) Court
Scientific name: Acacia ulicifolia (Salisb.) Court
Description: Acacia ulicifolia is a decumbent to erect shrub, growing 0.5โ2 m (1 ft 8 in โ 6 ft 7 in) tall, with smooth grey bark. Its phyllodes, which act and look like leaves, are short, needle-shaped, and measure 8โ14 mm (0.31โ0.55 in) long. The plant's inflorescences (flower clusters) each consist of a single flower head attached to the stem by a long, slender stalk 8โ15 mm (0.31โ0.59 in) long. The flowers are pale cream in color. The seed pods are 3โ5 cm (1.2โ2.0 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide, curved, and have evenly spaced constrictions between individual seeds. Flowering occurs from mid autumn to mid spring. The common name 'prickly Moses' is a corruption of 'prickly mimosa'.
Habitat and ecology: Acacia ulicifolia grows in dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, most commonly in sandy soil. It is widespread across coastal areas and tablelands of New South Wales, and also occurs in Queensland, Victoria (Australia), and Tasmania.