ACACIA mountfordae

Typically a multi-stemmed shrub or a small tree to 4 metres high with dark grey bark on the trunk and golden flower spikes 30-45 mm long from late June to late September in is natural range.

Phyllodes (leaves) either straight or slightly curved 25 to 55 mm long and 10-22 mm wide.

This Acacia was named in 1948 by Raymond Louis Specht on an expedition to Oenpelli after Mrs Mountford the wife of anthropologist Charles Pearcy Mountford (1890-1976) who both accompanied Specht on that expedition.

A rare Acacia that is limited in range to the vicinity of the Oenpelli Mission in the West Arnhem Land of the Northern Territory where is relatively common on the sandstone escarpments.

Although seed can be sown most of the year in Australia seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C.

Acacia seeds germinate readily, however they do have a hard outer coating which is impervious to water and generally germination will normally not occur unless the seed is scarified by abrading or pre-treated with boiling water first.

1. Place the seed in a container and pour in just boiled water and allow to soak overnight.
2. The swollen seed can then be sown, re-treat seeds that have not swollen.
3. Sow the depth of seed keep warm & moist but not wet.
4. Germination should occur in 10-21 days @ 18-22C.

General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.

Australian Native Plant Society - Acacia Propagation

Australian National Herbarium - Charles Pearcy Mountford