In the lead up to Wattle Day on September 1, a botanist working for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has discovered a new species of wattle growing in a grassland in northern NSW.

Lachlan Copeland was contracted by the NPWS to survey vegetation in the Kirramingly Nature Reserve near the small town of Gurley, in a project to reduce weeds and was surprised to find a large species of wattle that is new to science.

“As a botanist it’s always exciting to find new plant species and this one appears to be extra special,” Dr Copeland said.

“It’s most likely just a single individual with a number of shoots growing from the roots of the tree, with some several metres away from the main trunk.

“The tree has been around for a while, as it is six metres in height, growing in what is otherwise a grassland.

“It has been confirmed as a new wattle species and will be known as Acacia sp. aff. atrox, with a common name still to be decided.

“This new wattle is closely related to another endangered wattle Acacia atrox, which is only found in one location in NSW near the township of Delungra in the North West Slopes.

“As well as the new wattle species, the vegetation survey added a further 26 species of plants to the 265 species recorded for Kirramingly Nature Reserve,” Dr Copeland said.

Ranger Dirk Richards said the Narrabri area also hosted other rare and endangered species of wattle.

“Bullala National Park near Moree has the endangered species Acacia jucunda, while the endangered community dominated by Acacia pendula exists in various national parks in the area.

“Finds such as these highlight the important role played by protected areas in preserving our native plants and animals for future generations.

“This find of a new acacia species is timely, leading up to Wattle Day.

“It should remind people that there are many different types of wattles and some are threatened with extinction.”

© 2010 Armidale Express

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