Practical
Plants

Acacia aneura

Mulga Acacia

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Acacia genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Acacia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 (unit unspecified)
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers - cooked[4]. Rich in pollen, they are often used in fritters[4]. The bark exudes an edible gum[10]. Some species produce a gum that is dark and is liable to be astringent and distasteful, but others produce a light gum and this is sweet and pleasant. It can be sucked like candy or soaked in water to make a jelly[11]. The gum can be warmed when it becomes soft and chewable[11]. Seed - cooked. It is dried, ground into a flour and used with cereals in making cakes etc[9][10]. Acacia seeds are highly nutritious and contain approx 26% protein, 26% available carbohydrate, 32% fibre and 9% fat[14]. The fat content is higher than most legumes with the aril providing the bulk of fatty acids present[14]. These fatty acids are largely unsaturated which is a distinct health advantage although it presents storage problems as such fats readily oxidise[14]. The mean total carbohydrate content of 55.8 + 13.7% is lower than that of lentils, but higher than that of soybeans while the mean fibre content of 32.3 + 14.3% is higher than that of other legumes such as lentils with a level of 11.7%[14]. The energy content is high in all species tested, averaging 1480+270 kJ per 100g[14]. Wattle seeds are low glycaemic index foods. The starch is digested and absorbed very slowly, producing a small, but sustained rise in blood glucose and so delaying the onset of exhaustion in prolonged exercise[14]. A sweet red or white 'lerp' that forms on the leaves and branches is eaten[10]. Lerp is a protective shield secreted from the anus of sap-sucking insects[11]. The taste is sweet and it was used as a staple food by the Aborigines in some areas of Australia[11]. It is not clear if the lerp is eaten when the insects are still present or if it can be eaten after they have gone[K]. A large succulent gall, known as 'mulga apple' is produced by the tree and is said to quench the thirst[10].

Product or use
Drink
Product or use
Gum
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[8]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[8]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[12]. The twigs are used to make a dishmop[5]. Wood - turns well, takes a high polish. It is used extensively for ornaments and fencing[5][6][7].

Product or use
Brush
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia.
Habitat
Arid areas in all mainland states except Victoria[6][7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Wind
No
Maritime
No
Pollution
No
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse[1]. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in a warm greenhouse in March. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c[3]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame[15]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[15].

Seed Requires Scarification
No
Seed Requires Smokification
No
Seed Requires Stratification
No

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sandy loam and a very sunny position[1]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is not excessively limey[2]. Most species become chlorotic on limey soils[12]. In the wild this species tolerates periodic inundation[7], though it is also very drought tolerant[13]. Hardy to at least -7c in Australian gardens[6], though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Trees are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, even in the mildest areas of the country they are likely to be killed in excessively harsh winters[2]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[12].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 32202/01/01

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 32202/01/01

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 32202/01/01

    ↩

  4. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2

  5. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-00-216441-8

    ↩1↩2

  6. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

  9. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 32202/01/01 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 32202/01/01 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  14. Lister. P. Wattleseed www.uws.edu.au/vip/listerp/wattle.htm

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 32202/01/01

    ↩1↩2

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