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Cootamundra wattle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Clade:	Mimosoid clade
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. baileyana
Binomial name
	Acacia baileyana; F.Muell.
	Range of Acacia baileyana
Synonyms
	Acacia baileyana F.Muell. var. aurea Pescott; Acacia baileyana F.Muell. var. purpurea F.Muell.; Racosperma baileyanum (F.Muell.) Pedley);

Acacia baileyana or Cootamundra wattle is a shrub or tree in the flowering plant family Fabaceae. The scientific name of the species honours the botanist Frederick Manson Bailey. It is indigenous to a very small area in southern inland New South Wales, comprising Temora, Cootamundra, Stockinbingal and Bethungra districts. However, it has been widely planted in other Australian states and territories. In many areas of Victoria, it has become naturalised and is regarded as a weed, outcompeting indigenous Victorian species.

Almost all wattles have cream to golden flowers. The small flowers are arranged in spherical to cylindrical inflorescences, with only the stamens prominent. Wattles have been extensively introduced into New Zealand.

Uses

A. baileyana is used in Europe in the cut flower industry. It is also used as food for bees in the production of honey.^[4] American urban landscape designer Renée Gunter uses this plant in her South Los Angeles lawn as a drought-resistant alternative to thirstier plants.^[5]

Less than 0.02% alkaloids were found in a chemical analysis of Acacia baileyana.^[6]

Cultivation

This plant is adaptable and easy to grow. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[7] Unfortunately, it has an ability to naturalise (i.e. escape) into surrounding bushland. Also, it hybridises with some other wattles, notably the rare and endangered Sydney Basin species Acacia pubescens.

A prostrate weeping form is in cultivation. Its origin is unknown, but it is a popular garden plant, with its cascading horizontal branches good for rockeries.^[8] The fine foliage of the original Cootamundra wattle is grey-green, but a blue-purple foliaged form, known as 'Purpurea' is very popular.^[9]

Use of colour

The colour Cootamundra wattle is used currently by the Australian Capital Territory Fire Brigade as their colour scheme for firefighting appliances.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

Leaf and blossom
Fine detail of leaf
Leaf with fingers for scale
A. baileyana seeds
A. baileyana prostrate form in cultivation, Illawarra Grevillea Park, Bulli, NSW
Street tree, Los Angeles, CA
Acacia baileyana inflorescences and foliage.