Kind of Wattle (Acacia platycarpa) Ghost wattle

There is frequent misidentification and confusion between Acacia platycarpa and Acacia mimula because of the similarity in the flowers, fruit and habitat. Brock (2001) describes the main differences in the size (especially width) of the leaves, time of flowering and the texture of the bark. Acacia platycarpa is described as having 'bark: rough and grey to brown on trunk, smooth and whitish on upper branches' and 'phyllodes: alternate, smooth to slightly coarse, stiff, broad, curved, upper margin strongly curved and often wavy, blade 11-16cm x 3-6cm, dull grey-green, 3-4 prominent raised longitudinal veins joining towards base, rounded tip.' (Brock 2001:71). Acacia mimula on the other hand is described as 'bark: rough, grey, fibrous to tessellated' and 'pyllodes: smooth, elongated, curved to sickle-shaped, widest at middle, blade 8-15 cm x 1-3cm, dull green with 2-3 prominent longitudinal veins. Acacia platycarpa flowers from November to July whilst Acacia mimula only from April to June (Brock 2001:68). Acacia names are highly variable across Bininj Kunwok dialects also. an-borrelk in Gundjeihmi is not Acacia platycarpa but Acacia dimidiata though some speakers of Kuninjku will also ascribe this name (man-borrelk) to Acacia dimidiata.