Acacia farnesiana
Syn Vachellia farneiana

Mimosaceae

Mimosa Bush, Sweet Wattle 

Form and Size: A much-branched, thorny shrub 1-7m tall.

Distribution: Across northern tropical Australia; in sandy or black soils, often along watercourses in dry areas.

Leaves: Bipinnate; 2-4 pairs of secondary segments, each with 8-20 pairs of leaflets; leaflets narrow, green or blue-green, tip blunt,
3-6mm x 1-2mm; two very sharp-pointed spines to 3cm long at the base of each leaf.

Bark: Grey-brown, smooth or scaly.

Flowers: Bright orange-yellow balls, highly perfumed, 1.5-2cm diameter, on stalks to 2cm long; borne singly or in small groups in the axils.

Flowering Period: June to September.

Fruit: Pods, black or dark brown, smooth, thick, irregularly rounded, 4-8cm x 0.8-1.2cm; often held on the bush for long periods.

Cultivation/Notes: Propagate from treated seed. A very thorny shrub, but sometimes useful as a bird nesting site. The flowers are used commercially for the production of an oil used in the perfume industry.  Understood to have been introduced to Australia in the early stages of European settlement.