Practical
Plants

Acacia retinodes

Swamp 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
Height
6 m
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. Seed[4][5]. No more details are given. The seedpods can be up to 18cm long[10]. Acacia seeds are highly nutritious and contain approx 26% protein, 26% available carbohydrate, 32% fibre and 9% fat[12]. The fat content is higher than most legumes with the aril providing the bulk of fatty acids present[12]. These fatty acids are largely unsaturated which is a distinct health advantage although it presents storage problems as such fats readily oxidise[12]. 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%[12]. The energy content is high in all species tested, averaging 1480+270 kJ per 100g[12]. 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[12].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

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

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[7]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[7]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[9].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Australia - Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania. Locally naturalized in S. Europe[13].
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure, drought
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant
Salinity
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[14]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[14].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a well-drained sandy loam and a very sunny position[1][11], but it also stands drought and wet well[11]. Succeeds in any good garden soil, this species is said to be fairly lime tolerant[2][6][8][9]. Succeeds in a hot dry position[6]. Plants are fairly tolerant of salt in the soil and salt-laden winds[11]. This species is said to be hardy from mid-Sussex southwards and westwards[1]. However, trees are not very hardy outdoors in most parts of Britain and even in the mildest areas of the country they are likely to be killed in excessively harsh winters[2]. A very ornamental tree[1]. 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[9].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

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  11. 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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

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

    ↩1↩2

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