| BRIEF DESCRIPTION A shrub or medium-sized tree. On wind-exposed coastal dunes it develops into a 2-3 m tall shrub, on better protected sites it may become a tree of 5-20 m and on very favourable sites it may reach 30 m. Tall trees may reach a trunk diameter of 50 cm. USES The wood can be used for heavy construction, furniture, boatbuilding, flooring, hardboard, poles, veneer, and fuel. The tree can be used for revegetation and fixation of coastal sand dunes, shelter, and shade. GROWING PERIOD Fast-growing perennial. It may reach a height of 4.4 m and a diameter of 4.2 cm at 1 year old. COMMON NAMES Northern wattle, Papua New Guinea red wattle. FURTHER INF Northern wattle occurs along the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia within the latitudinal range 8-20°S at elevations from sea level to 200 m. It can also be found in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It is commonly found right behind the beach, on flat land or on sand dunes and on coastal plains and foothills. It is nitrogen-fixing and tolerant of fire and salt winds. |
