Acacia ligulata
Family: Fabaceae
Bushy shrub to 2.5m in height with bright yellow, globular flowers.
Usually found at the base of red sand dunes, it is common along the Old South Road (south of Alice Springs).
A very important plant for many local Aboriginal people, this plant provides a food source with its seeds, white gum from the trunk and grubs found in the roots. The ash produced from the burnt wood of this plant is used for pituri (chewing tobacco).
One of its Aboriginal names has given rise to the name of the national park containing Kings Canyon - Watarrka.
Where to find this plant at Alice Springs Desert Park
There is a spectacular example of this plant in the Sand Country habitat opposite Shelter F. Also other smaller trees through the Sand Country habitat.
Source:
Latz, P., 2004. Bushfires and Bushtucker, IAD Press, Alice Springs
Moore, P., 2005. A guide to plants of Inland Australia, Reed New Holland, Sydney
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:297920