GREEN AND GOLD

THE COLOURS OF THE WATTLE MAKE AUSSIE HEARTS BEAT FASTER BUT THE SEEDS OF MANY SPECIES ARE ALSO PRIZED AS FOODS

Words Jennifer Stackhouse

Wattle is not just Australia’s floral emblem but also a versatile bush food. Its seeds can be ground to a flour or added whole to dishes such as wattle-seed pancakes or wattle-seed ice-cream. The flavour of the seeds has been likened to coffee with a hint of chocolate. The seeds are nutritious and contain potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. Wattle seeds are widely consumed by native bird species including native pigeons and doves. In dry farming areas, wattles and wattle seeds are also used as stock food. Wattle belongs to the Acacia genus and is a member of the pea family, so is a legume. All 900 species produce seed but several are valued for their edible seeds. Not all wattles produce edible seed. One that does and is hard to resist is the…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #14.5

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