Practical
Plants

Acacia decurrens

Green Wattle

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
12 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

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 in making jellies etc[17][2][11]. It is insoluble in water[6] and is of low quality[20]. Larger quantities can be obtained by tapping the trunk[20]. 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
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The bark is astringent[16][6]. It should be stored for 12 months before being used[16]. Its main use is in the treatment of diarrhoea[16].

Product or use
Astringent

Material uses

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

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]. Often grown as a screen in Australia[7]. The bark contains about 40% tannin[19][10]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 36.6% tannin[14].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Tannin

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Hedge

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Sheltered forests, mainly on shales and sandstone[6]. Usually on cool moist hills and gullies[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

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[4]. 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[21]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[21].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a light sandy loam and a very sunny position sheltered from strong winds[1][18][22]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is not excessively limey[3], it also succeeds in dry soils. Most species in this genus become chlorotic on limey soils[13]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -5°c[15]. This species is one of the hardiest members of the genus, it succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of the country, but even in Cornwall it can be killed back to the ground in excessively harsh winters[3]. It will, however, usually resprout from the base. 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[3]. A fast-growing and very ornamental tree[1][15], it is closely related to A. dealbata[3]. The cultivar 'Mollis' is notably resistant to honey fungus[13]. 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. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

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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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

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  8. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

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  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. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  16. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  22. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

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