During April 2000, members of the Trust for Nature Flora and Fauna Survey team gave up their Easter break to conduct a survey of species present at the Ralph Illidge Sanctuary. Of the many species recorded over the long weekend, one in particular caused much interest. A rare dwarf form of the Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) was identified and there is speculation that the oldest of the four plants found could have germinated after the Ash Wednesday fires that decimated the Sanctuary in 1983.

Silver Wattle normally grows as a tree of 8 metres to 30 metres high while the specimens found were limited to around 3 metres. Members of the Friends of Ralph Illidge Sanctuary are interested in propagating from this species as the dwarf variety could prove to be a valuable garden addition with its soft fern like foliage should the dwarf characteristics be maintained in captivity.

Click hear if you would like to view the plant survey.