Comparison of selected Acacia species:

Common name Scientific name	Habit	Leaves	Pairs of Pinnae	Pairs of leaflets	Pinnae Leaflets	Flower Heads	Other Distinguishing Characteristics
cootamundra wattle Acacia baileyana	tree	even 2-pinnate compound	3-6	12-20	overlapped margins touch	bright yellow	leaflets silver-blue
silver wattle Acacia dealbata	tree	even 2-pinnate compound	8-25	20-70	overlapped overlapped	bright yellow	leaflets, twigs covered with minute silvery hairs
green wattle Acacia decurrens	tree	even 2-pinnate compound	5-15	15-35	not overlapped +/- overlapped	bright yellow	leaflets +/- glabrous, olive-green twigs winged
sweet acacia Acacia farnesiana	shrub	even 2-pinnate compound	2-5	8-20	not overlapped +/- overlapped	gold-yellow to dull orange	leaves deciduous twigs with straight, paired stipular spines
black acacia Acacia melanoxylon	tree	mostly simple, 6-15 cm long	___	___	___	pale yellow to cream-colored	often some leaves even-bipinnate at tip long, bright red seed stalk encircles seed
kangaroothorn Acacia paradoxa	shrub	simple, 1-2 cm long	___	___	___	bright yellow	leaf margins wavy twigs with straight, paired stipular spines