MacNutt's Wattle - profile

Scientific name: Acacia macnuttiana 
 Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
National conservation status: Vulnerable

Description

MacNutt's Wattle is an upright or spreading shrub 1 - 3 m tall. The leaves are straight or curved, 7 - 14 cm long and 3 mm wide, with a pointed tip, and one to three small glands along the edge. Its golden yellow flowers are clustered into ball-shaped heads with five to nine heads on a hairy flower stalk. It flowers during July-September.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 MacNutt's Wattle is restricted to NSW. It occurs only on the New England Tablelands and just extending onto the North West Slopes. Found in widely scattered locations in the Tenterfield area and west to around Torrington.

• MacNutt's Wattle grows in dry forest or woodland and heath vegetation, usually on granite or metasediments and often near streams.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Border Rivers/Gwydir
• Northern Rivers

Threats

• Inappropriate fire regime. Fires may be too frequent or too seldom, or may not be of sufficient intensity to crack seed coats and allow seedling germination.
• Destruction and disturbance of habitat for agriculture and development
• Trampling and picking of plants by bushwalkers.
• Destruction of habitat caused by erosion.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 14 priority actions to help recover the MacNutt's Wattle in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Support local Landcare groups.
• Stay on established walking tracks when visiting National Parks and other reserves.
• Enjoy viewing and photographing native wildflowers but leave them in the wild.
• Manage fire to encourage regeneration of MacNutt's Wattle.
• Protect known populations and areas of potential habitat from clearing or disturbance.

References

• NPWS (2003). Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. NPWS, Coffs Harbour.