Acacia equisetifolia

Critically endangered – Northern Territory

 

 

 

I am a lonely little wattle shrub

my family name is Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee)

by various strange and wonderful ways I’m related to the pea.

Peas are plentiful

but my fellow family members dwindle by the day.

Acacia equisetifolia is critically endangered; so the scientists say

I’d really love to have a chat

calling out across the sandy ground, “Is anybody there?”

then hoping for an answer to float on through the humid air.

 

If anyone in the big wide world would like to visit me

this is where I’ll be,

Graveside Gorge

Kakadu National Park

in the Northern Territory.

I’ll put my yellow pom-pom blooms on show,

they’re a little like dandelion clocks you know.

 

 

 

You’ll find me in a woodland glade

of woollybutt and bloodwood trees;

they’re shady, kind and friendly

but far too big to be my family.

 

My seed pods need a fire to burst them into life,

a little one will do.

It rained a lot last night and I am so surprised to see,

where last season I popped a pod or two

a teeny tiny green shoot – a sprouting Mini-me.

Photo credit to Kym Brennan of the Lucid Acacia Project