Native plant - Menzel’s wattle
- Fact sheet
- August 2015
Description
- rounded spreading shrub of 1-2m
- leaves are 1.5-3.5cm long, 1mm in diameter
- leaves are straight or slightly curved and feel sticky
- flowers heads contain 25-30 individual flowers
- seed pods are 2.5-4.5cm long, 2-3mm broad, curved or slightly twisted, brown and pointed at each end.
Ecology
- perennial shrub flowering from July to October
- grows on soil ranging from loams to sandy loams.
Conservation rating
Menzel’s wattle is listed as nationally vulnerable – approximately 11,000 individual plants remaining in the Murraylands and Riverland region.
Threats
- fragmentation
- fire (either too frequent or not frequent enough)
- weed competition (annual grassy weeds and bridal creeper).
Habitat
Found in woodland and mallee habitats. In woodland habitats, the overstorey is dominated by:
- mallee box (Eucalyptus porosa)
- blue gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon)
- peppermint box (Eucalytpus odorata)
- southern cypress pine (Callitris preissii)
- drooping sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata)
In mallee habitats, the overstorey is dominated by:
- white mallee (Eucalyptus phenax ssp. phenax)
- beaked red mallee (Eucalyptus sociallis)
There is commonly a midstorey shrub layer in these communities dominated by acacia species. The undergrowth is dominated by grasses, sedges and small shrubs.
Distribution
Endemic to South Australia. Within the Murraylands and Riverland region populations are known to occur in Murray Bridge, Monarto and Rockleigh.
How you can help
Please be aware of native plants and help preserve them by:
- preventing damage caused by grazing
- preventing removal/illegal collection
- controlling weeds to reduce competition
- taking a photo instead of picking native flowers
- volunteering with the Murraylands and Riverland region or joining your local native vegetation group
- reporting any sightings of these endangered plants to our offices (contact details below).