Practical
Plants

Acacia dealbata

Mimosa

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
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
25 m
Spread
8 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Flowers - cooked[5]. Rich in pollen, they are often used in fritters. A gum that exudes naturally from the trunk is edible and is used as a substitute for Gum Arabic[18]. It is very soluble in water and viscous[18][6], but is of low quality[23]. Larger quantities can be obtained by tapping the trunk[23]. 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.[12]. The gum can be warmed when it becomes soft and chewable[12].

Plant part
Flowers
Product or use
Cooked
Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Gum

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[9]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[9]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[13]. Tannin is obtained from the bark[22][10]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 19.1% tannin[15].

Plant part
Flower
Product or use
Dye
Plant part
Bark
Product or use
Tannin

Ecology and functions

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Australia - Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania. Naturalized in S. Europe[20].
Habitat
In many habitats by streams, gullies and alpine ridges[7][11]. Dry forests[17].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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[24]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[24].

Cultivation

Prefers a sandy loam and a very sunny position sheltered from strong winds[1][2]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is lime-free[2]. Plants become chlorotic on limey soils[13]. They grow well in a hot dry position[8], and are very drought tolerant[16]. Fast growing[25]. Although it prefers a well-drained soil, the plant is tolerant of both drought and wet conditions[17]. Hardy to about -10°c, this species succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[2][11], growing well in Cornwall[19][21]. If it is cut down by frosts it usually resprouts from the base to form a thicket of slender stems[8]. It can be trained and grown against a sunny wall[14]. Plants require hot, sunny summers if they are to ripen their wood fully and flower freely. In Britain they tend to do best when grown in coastal gardens in a sunny, sheltered position that is protected from the wind[2]. This species is closely allied to A. decurrens[2]. Old specimens sucker very freely, often at considerable distances from the parent tree[13]. Plants can be coppiced[4]. A very ornamental tree[1], there are some named varieties[17]. The species is cultivated in S. Europe for ornament, timber and soil stabilization[20]. The flowers are very attractive and are often sold in florists[2][22]. The violet-like perfume of the flowers can be quite intoxicating on a calm day[16]. 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[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

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  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

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  5. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

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  6. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

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  7. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

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  8. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

  10. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  11. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  12. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

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  15. Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00

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  16. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  17. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  19. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

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  20. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  21. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

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  22. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  23. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2

  24. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  25. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

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