Acacia Peuce

Acacia Peuce trees are known as Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, or Birdsville Wattle. As seen here along the Old Andado Track, the trees grew in large clumps. Standing among the few remaining trees and hearing the desert wind sighing through the needle-like leaves was sobering.

The average annual rainfall in this area is only 150 mm (6 inches). In January, at the height of summer, the maximum temperature is above 40 degrees (104 Fahrenheit).  The tree is slow-growing with fibrous grey-brown bark. Foliage consists of elongated phyllodes that are typically grey-green in color. The timber is dense with dark red heart-wood. Old trees are reputed to live for at least 500 years. The tree is a source for Aboriginal digging tools and clubs. Early pastoralist cut them down for fencing and stockyard timber.

Only a few specimens survive at Andado and occupy approx. Ten km², mainly with mainlyMac Clarke Conservation Reserve. Two other stands exist in Queensland. One is 15 km north of Birdsville on the road to Bedourie. The other southwest of Boulia on Montague Downs and Marion Downs stations. Under the EPBC Act, the tree is listed as ‘Vulnerable‘. A map showing how to get to the site is available online from NT Park and Wildlife.