Poverty bush (Acacia stellaticeps*) is one of many plant species found in the Western Australian rangelands.
This page provides a summary of the plant's value for pastoralism. Pastoral lessees and station managers can use this information to assess pasture condition and trend.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions's FloraBase [1] features a photograph of this plant.
Indicator value
Where dominant, poverty bush is an indicator [2] of poor pasture condition [3]. It increases [2] under heavy grazing pressure.
Forage value
Little or no forage value.
Habitat
Red sand, stony sand, clay soils.
General description
Poverty bush is a creeping dense shrub growing to 1m tall and up to 3m across. The leaves are up to 22mm long and 12mm wide and are S-shaped, rigid and sticky. The flowers are small, bright yellow and globe-shaped about 3mm long. The pods are held erect above foliage, flat and tapering to the base.
* Acacia stellaticeps is the new name for the plant formerly known as A. translucens; it is still the same poverty bush.