Wirilda

Status:

Australian native.

Plant Description:

Shrub to small tree, 5-10 m tall with somewhat weeping branches. Phyllodes (modified leaves) 3-22 cm long and 3-15 mm wide and thin, smooth, green to glaucous with obscure veins and glands.

Flowers light gold to cream, in globular heads on short racemes. Seed pods to 16 cm long and 5-7 mm wide and seeds 4-6 mm long and dull to slightly shiny, dark brown to black.

Habitat:

Two varieties recognised; var. retinoides scattered in open forest in poorly drained soils throughout central-west Victoria to the Wimmera and Western District and var. uncifolia from Port Phillip Bay and Wilsons Promontory where it grows in coastal dunes and near saltmarsh. Trees growing in wetter conditions, tend to have a more wispy habit than those in drier environments.