Acacia yinnetharra

Acacia yinnetharra is putting on a spectacular show this Autumn with its fine weeping foliage which moves with the breeze, and its bright yellow flowering rods. The Acacia yinnetharra grows as a tree reaching up to 10 metres tall with a smooth grey trunk and slender needle-like phyllodes. It also has long, striped seed pods containing flattish brown seeds.

Acacia yinnetharra is a new species discovered only in 2011 in the Gascoyne Bioregion and named after the station on which it was found. It is therefore a rare localised endemic plant. It was discovered by then Kings Park And Botanic Garden staff Luke Sweedman and Grady Brand. (See Florabase).

Seed was collected a short time after its discovery and raised successfully by the staff from the Biodiversity Centre here at Kings Park. You can see it growing in the Botanic Garden above the Botanic Terraces and in the Acacia Garden around the Acacia Steps.

This Acacia belongs to the Fabaceae (legume/pea) family which is the largest plant group in Australia with some 1000 species.

The Acacia yinnetharra definitely has the WOW factor and deserves to be admired. Check with the Guides at the Visitor Information Centre where you can find it, or join a free daily guided walk.