As Acacia belongs to the legume family, it has typical long hard and narrow seed pods. Glossary Technical terms and meanings. in turn include the Australian and South East Asian genera Archidendron, Archidendropsis, Pararchidendron and Wallaceodendron, all of the tribe Ingeae. It comprises a group of plant genera native to Africa and Australasia. [7], In 2003, Anthony Orchard and Bruce Maslin filed a proposal to conserve the name Acacia with a different type in order to retain the Australasian group of species in the genus Acacia. WATTLE Acacias of Australia. One species of Acacia (sensu stricto) is native to Madagascar, one to Reunion island, 12 to Asia, and the remaining species (over 900) are native to Australasia and the Pacific Islands. Invasion rate of the alien species Acacia saligna within coastal sand dune habitats in Israel. 28 Species of Acacia Trees and Shrubs. Acacia aneura Mulga Photographs Description: Small tree or large shrub to 7 m high by 7 macross, often multi-stemmed. Acacias in Australia probably evolved their fire resistance about 20 million years ago when fossilised charcoal deposits show a large increase, indicating that fire was a factor even then. Necklacepod- Styphnolobium Paloverde- Parkinsonia Redbud- Cercis Texas Ebony- Ebenopsis Yellowwood- Cladrastis. The Android and Apple versions of the WATTLE App can be downloaded from the Google Play and iTunesapp stores respe… taxa continue to be called Acacia by those who choose to consider the entire group as one genus. The genus Acacia is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae). They often have many small oval leaves (called pinnate leaves) along their “leaflets.” This gives them the appearance of a … Some wattle species have sharp thorns. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. Honey collected from Caragana arborescens is sometimes also called (yellow) acacia honey. It turned out that one lineage comprising over 900 species mainly native to Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia was not closely related to the much smaller group of African lineage that contained A. nilotica—the type species. A number of species have been introduced to various parts of the world, and two million hectares of commercial plantations have been established. Because of this great diversity within the genus, it is nearly impossible to typify a standard wood that is representative of the genus. Commonly known as Wattle, Acacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia. 3) enables users to identify wattle plants that occur anywhere in Australia or elsewhere in the world where they are grown. It favors disturbed places in coastal prairies, riparian areas and coniferous forests. Acacia acuminata. Distribution: Primarily Australia; a few species are found in Asia and the Pacific islands, Genus Size: Nearly 1,000 species (see available species listing). [24] Parenchyma tends to be primarily vasicentric and isn’t generally seen with extensive and wide bands. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. can be short lived. The hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree (senso latu) are known as acacia gum. Acacia—Acacia spp. Thrips cause bunchy top in Acacia auriculiformis. Acacia melanoxylon (black acacia) is a tree (family Fabaceae) found along the coast of California, in the North and South Coast Ranges, and the San Francisco Bay region. Identification: Wood is diffuse porous (not ring-porous), typically with medium to large pores. [12][13][14] In 2003, Pedley published a paper with 834 new combinations in Racosperma for species, most of which were formerly placed in Acacia. The genus name is New Latin from the Greek word for 'thorn' from the habit of many species originally included in the genus. Those outside Australia belong to … Identification: Wood is diffuse porous (not ring-porous), typically with medium to large pores. [29], Aboriginal Australians have traditionally harvested the seeds of some species, to be ground into flour and eaten as a paste or baked into a cake. Common Name(s): Spear wattle, ringy rosewood Scientific Name: Acacia rhodoxylon Distribution: Australia Average Dried Weight: 79.0 lbs/ft 3 (1265 kg/m 3) Janka Hardness: 4,100 lb f (18,240 N) Comments: So named because of the wood’s high density and strength, which was utilized by aboriginals in making spear-throwers and other primitive weapons. Flowers are rod-like, yellow, and occur in spring or other times, depending on rain. What this means is that the genus formerly known as Acacia would be split into five different genera, but the majority of the species—those predominantly from Australia—would remain as Acaia. [26], Several of its species bear vertically oriented phyllodes, which are green, broadened leaf petioles that function like leaf blades,[27] an adaptation to hot climates and droughts. It favors disturbed areas, and is often found near buildings and agricultural sites. It includes 1,057 formally described species of Acacia, plus several hybrids and informal taxa of this genus. It also includes two species of Acaciella, four species of Senegalia and nine species of Vachellia that occur in Australia and which were previously included in Acacia. [8], Acacia is a common food source and host plant for butterflies of the genus Jalmenus. Version 3. [15][16] At the 2011 International Botanical Congress held in Melbourne, the decision to use the name Acacia, rather than the proposed Racosperma for this genus, was upheld. [15] A. melanoxylon (blackwood) and A. aneura (mulga) supply some of the most attractive timbers in the genus. Acacia, commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. [8] In drier woodlands or forest they are an important component of the understory. Pliocene fossil pollen of an Acacia sp. The showy yellow mimosa cut flowers, Acacia dealbata and Acacia baileyana, hail from southeastern Australia. Small evergreen tree, with light green leaves and pale yellow spherical flower heads.. Scientific name: Acacia retinodes Schlecht.. Common name: water wattle. Seed pod fossils of †Acacia parschlugiana and †Acacia cyclosperma are known from Tertiary deposits in Switzerland,. For documenting flora of India that is being discussed on efloraofindia google e-group along with supplementing the working of the group. [15] These species were all given combinations by Pedley when he erected the genus Racosperma, hence Acacia pulchella, for example, became Racosperma pulchellum. Acacia acinacea. In ancient Egypt, an ointment made from the ground leaves of an Acacia (senso latu) was used to treat hemorrhoids. Acacia cyanophylla as a forage species. has been described from West Georgia and Abkhazia. [5] This was officially adopted. Many species of Acacia will fluoresce under a black light, which can help to separate them from other lookalike genera. The Acacia species selected were Acacia nilotica, Acacia seyal and Acacia senegal. [17][18] Other Acacia s.l. One ton of wattle or mimosa bark contained about 68 kilograms (150 pounds) of pure tannin.[31]. Phyllodes are narrow to broad linear, greyish, to 7 cm. Identify Launch the Lucid identification tool. How to guide Guide to using the identification tool. It is an evergreen tree ranging from 65 ft. (20 m) tall. Although most species of this genus grow in Australia and Hawaii, this species is a medium to large canopied tree native primarily to the savanna and Sahel of Africa but also occurring in the Middle East. Anon, 1955. The controversy is rooted in a few simple realities. [10] The genus as recognized in 1986 contained 1352 species. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! Comments: Acacia is a very large and diverse genus, containing several hundred species, ranging from woods weighing less than black cherry (Prunus serotina)—such as mangium (Acacia mangium)—to some of the heaviest and hardest woods on earth—such as waddywood (Acacia peuce). They vary in size depending on the species. Mechanical Characteristics: Density greatly variable, some species can be very heavy and hard, though most commercial species are of moderate weight. Acacia honey is not collected from plants in the acacia family, but rather from Robinia pseudoacacia, known as black locust in North America. [25], They are present in all terrestrial habitats, including alpine settings, rainforests, woodlands, grasslands, coastal dunes and deserts. The Wattle - Acacias of Australia app (WATTLE ver. [23] †Acacia colchica has been described from the Miocene of West Georgia. The genus name is New Latin from the Greek word for 'thorn' from the habit of many species originally included in the genus.[4]. The trees tend to be thorny and pod-bearing. Since about 1810 it refers to the Australian legumes that provide these branches.[21]. The issue of dispute is which group of species ought to retain the right to the original Acacia name? [8] A number of species, most notably A. mangium (hickory wattle), A. mearnsii (black wattle) and A. saligna (coojong), are economically important and are widely planted globally for wood products, tannin, firewood and fodder. Nevertheless, some wood merchants (particularly wood flooring retailers) are quite fond of using the “acacia” name despite its inherent vagueness. The caterpillar has been identified as Lymantriidae species and a couple of images of it are included with this post. It prefers semi-tropical to tropical situations. [33] [18], Australian species of the genus Paraserianthes s.l. The Wattle was at the junctions of ANBG Sections 46 and 47 and did not appear to have an identification marker, hence the Wattle identification is unknown by me. Used for flooring, indoor and outdoor furniture. The genus Acacia belongs to the family Mimosaceae. More information on WATTLE App is available at the LucidCentral website. Acacia is mentioned in an ancient Egyptian proverb referred to by Amenhotep II, "If you lack a gold battle-axe inlaid with bronze, a heavy club of acacia wood will do?". Anatomy Acacia is also the nation's largest genus of flowering plants with almost 1,000 species found. This meant that the Australasian lineage (by far the most prolific in number of species) would need to be renamed. [34], Some species of acacia - notably A. baileyana, A. dealbata and A. pravissima - are cultivated as ornamental garden plants. Acacia Mangium is a plantation wood species available in FSC® Certified Imported logs or sawn and/or non certified but still legal and sustainable Philippine supply. The name Acacia is preserved for 948 Australian species, 7 in the Pacific Islands, 1 or 2 in Madagascar and 10 in tropical Asia. (Published by Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Perth and Identic Pty. [14] Following a controversial decision to choose a new type for Acacia in 2005, the Australian component of Acacia s.l. [35], Some species of acacia contain psychoactive alkaloids, and some contain potassium fluoroacetate, a rodent poison. Acacia (senso latu) is repeatedly mentioned in the Book of Exodus, perhaps referring to Vachellia tortilis (previously known as Acacia raddiana), in regards to the construction of the Tabernacle. Fact sheets Access in-depth information. The Pea family, Fabaceae, contains the genus Acacia, and includes these tree species: Acacia greggii A. Gray- Catclaw Acacia Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.- Sweet Acacia Acacia rigidula Benth.- Blackbrush Acacia. Appearance Acacia melanoxylon is a straight trunked, medium sized tree of the legume family (Fabaceae) with a dense crown. [6] The heterogeneous group[7] varies considerably in habit, from mat-like subshrubs to canopy trees in forest. lophantha. Elsewhere they may be dominant, as in the Brigalow Belt, Myall woodlands and the eremaean Mulga woodlands. The Ark of the Covenant was constructed of Acacia Wood (Exodus 25:10) as was the poles, Table, the boards of the tabernacle, pillars, the altar, and bars. It has a compact spread and is often multi-stemmed. [8], In Australia, Acacia forest is the second most common forest type after eucalypt forest, covering 980,000 square kilometres (378,380 sq mi) or 8% of total forest area. [citation needed] They began to form dry, open forests with species of the genera Allocasuarina, Eucalyptus and Callitris (cypress-pines). Acacia species provide cover to smaller trees and shrubs, habitat for native animals and birds, act to stabilise soils and play an integral role in nutrient cycling through the fixing of nitrogen. See also Monofloral honey. Acacias are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, particularly Australia (where they are called wattles) and Africa, where they are well-known landmarks on the veld and savanna. They prosper in Mediterranean climates with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Acacia confusa is protected in the mounta… Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? It’s of course no coincidence that much of these genetic differences lie along geographic lines. It includes 1,057 formally described species of Acacia, plus several hybrids and informal taxa of this genus. [citation needed] With no major mountain ranges or rivers to prevent their spread, the wattles began to spread all over the continent as it dried and fires became more common. [citation needed], An Acacia-like 14 cm long fossil seed pod has been described from the Eocene of the Paris Basin. ACACIA RAINTREE. Acacia is considered to be one of the largest genera of shrubs with more than 800 species spread across the world. There are some 1350 species of Acacia found throughout the world and close to 1000 of these are to be found in Australia. However these were not upheld with the retypification of Acacia. [21] From around 700 A.D. watul was used in Old English to refer to the interwoven branches and sticks which formed fences, walls and roofs. Mostly they are classified as large shrubs or small trees. Acacia dealbata (silver wattle) is a tree (family Fabaceae) found in the coastal ranges, San Francisco Bay area, and south coast of California. gold-dust acacia. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Herendeen & Dilcher, 1992, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Leguminosae species from the territory of, Erik Hornung 'The Pharaoh' in Sergio Donadoni, The Egyptians, The University of Chicago Press, 1997. p. 291, "Phylogenetic position and revised classification of, "Domestication and use of Australian acacias: case studies of five important species", "The controversy over the retypification of, "Unforgettable Acacias, A Large Genus Of Trees & Shrubs", "Fluoroacetate in plants - a review of its distribution, toxicity to livestock and microbial detoxification", WATTLE Acacias of Australia Lucid Web Player (multi-access key for identifying Australian Acacias), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acacia&oldid=990229709, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 November 2020, at 15:10. Acacia aculeatissima. Rep. For. Bar P, Cohen O, Shoshany M, 2004. Visual Characteristics: Many species have a medium to dark brown heartwood with sharply demarcated sapwood. The Wattle - Acacias of Australia app (WATTLE ver. Acacia trees are commonly known as "Thorntrees" or "Wattles", including the yellow-fever Acacia and umbrella Acacias. These services are particularly important in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia where acacias dominate and few other species can fill these roles. [9] In 1913 Nathaniel Lord Britton and Addison Brown selected Mimosa scorpioides L. (≡ Acacia scorpioides (L.) W.Wight = Acacia nilotica (L.) Delille), a species from Africa, as the lectotype of the name. It includes over 1,000 formally described species of Acacia, plus several hybrids and informal taxa of this genus. P.S. [30], Wattle bark collected in Australia in the 19th century was exported to Europe where it was used in the tanning process. A. farnesiana is one of few New World species of the genus, thought to have originated in Central America, and similar in morphology and habitat preferences to the South American A. caven.Suggested revisions of the genus by Pedley which would transfer all Australian species to the new genus Racosperma and some African species to Senegalia, … Many species of Acacia will fluoresce under a black light, which can help to separate them from other lookalike genera. [22] Acacia like fossil pods under the name Leguminocarpon are known from late Oligocene deposits at different sites in Hungary. [20], The origin of "wattle" may be an Old Teutonic word meaning "to weave". Fossil Plants by Paul Kenrick & Paul Davis, Natural History Muyseum, London, 2004. The 1889 publication 'Useful native plants of Australia' describes various uses for eating. A Genus in Upheaval: Historically, Acacia species have been spread throughout Africa, the Americas, as well as Asia and Australia. In Taiwan they grow island wide up to about 2,000m. It includes 1,057 formally described species of Acacia, plus several hybrids and informal taxa of this genus. [28] Some phyllodinous species have a colourful aril on the seed. In the early 2000s it had become evident that the genus as it stood was not monophyletic and that several divergent lineages needed to be placed in separate genera. The bark is grey to light brown and gets deeply furrowed with age. It can occasionally get up to 148 ft. (45 m) tall. That year however, Les Pedley published a paper in which he questioned the monophyletic nature of the genus, and proposed a split into three genera: Acacia sensu stricto (161 species), Senegalia (231 species) and Racosperma (960 species), the last name first proposed in 1829 by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius as the name of a section in Acacia,[11] but raised to generic rank in 1835. The Acacia genus is comprised of species of shrubs and trees, most of them native to Australia, with the rest native to the tropical to warm-temperate regions of both hemispheres, including Africa, southern Asia, and the Americas. Risk Assessment score: (in development). Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae). Australian botanists proposed a less disruptive solution setting a different type species (A. penninervis) and allowing this largest number of species to remain Acacia, resulting in the two African lineages being renamed Vachellia and Senegalia, and the two New World lineages renamed Acaciella and Mariosousa. Status in Portugal: invasive species (listed in the annex I of Decreto-Lei n° 565/99, of 21 December). Dep. 3 key, but packaged for use on an Android/Apple smartphone or tablet. On the side of Australia, there is sheer number (the great majority of both known and disputed Acacia species—nearly 1000—are from Australia). [8], The genus was first validly named in 1754 by Philip Miller. Figured grain patterns such as curl (commonly called “ringed” in Australia) are also seen. Acacia confusa is from SE Asia: China (Southern), Philippines (Northern), Japan (Southern) and Taiwan. The gray-white bark often shows vertical fissures. It also includes two species of Acaciella, four species of Senegalia and nine species of Vachellia that occur in Australia; all which were previously incl… This is not to mention the practicality of maintaining all these species rather than reclassifying them and updating a great deal of records and written material. Acacia Koa (Acacia koa) Creeping Wattle (Acacia saligna) Box Leaf Wattle (Acacia buxifolia) Coastal Wattle (Acacia longifolia) Espinillo (Acacia caven) Acacia remains a widely used common name across genera . Native of rainforest areas in southeastern Australia, it was introduced as a forestry planting to Hawaii, New Zealand, and South Africa. [36], For the former broader circumscription, see. The new type species of Acacia has become Acacia penninervis. * Family Fabaceae (Pea family) Plant identification. Parenchyma tends to be primarily vasicentric and isn’t generally seen with extensive and wide bands. This family shares the distinctive seed pods that peas, acacias and other legumes grow. 3) enables users to identify wattle plants that occur anywhere in Australia or elsewhere in the world where they are grown. They produce a lot of pollen and attract insects, especially bees. The Plants Database includes the following 133 species of Acacia . [28] In addition to utilizing the edible seed and gum, the people employed the timber for implements, weapons, fuel and musical instruments. Distribution of Legumes in the Tertiary of Hungary by L. Hably, Advances in Legume Systematics: Part 4, The Fossil Record, Ed. [19] The nearest relatives of Acacia and Paraserianthes s.l. Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature Top of page. Native Introduced Native and Introduced. [2] All but 10 of these species are native to Australasia, where it constitutes the largest plant genus. [8] Black wattle bark supported the tanning industries of several countries, and may supply tannins for production of waterproof adhesives. This covers true tropical forests, seasonal monsoon type forests, rainforests and trees can withstand down to 1-2C. They all belong to the former subgenus Phyllodineae. [32] Acacia, (genus Acacia), genus of about 160 species of trees and shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae). Acacia species grow naturally in the subtropical and tropical parts of the world, mainly in Africa, South America, Polynesia and Australia. The southern region of Taiwan gets dry in winter, there can be as long as 6 months without rain, while in the wet season it can rain non-stop for over a month. Maslin, B.R. Acacia is repeatedly mentioned in Exodus, perhaps referring to Acacia raddiana. Acacia gum is used as an emulsifier in food, a binder for watercolour painting, an additive to ceramic glazes, a binding in gum bichromate photography, a protective layer in the lithographic processes and as a binder to bind together fireworks. It comprises a group of plant genera native to Africa and Australasia. Acacia, commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Botanist Les Pedley named this group Racosperma, which was not adopted. Few common species, which are originally from Australia, are named as blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), silver wattle (Acacia dealbata), black wattle (Acacia mearnsii), and coast wattle (Acacia longifolia). Nitrogen Fixing Tree Research Reports, 8:95-97. Acacia adunca. are deemed its closest relatives, particularly P. Africa vs. Australia: the Verdict: In the end, though it was disputed and sometimes not even acknowledged by some authors as valid, the official ruling at the International Botanical Congress (IBC) was, in effect, in favor of Australia. Most species are evergreen and bloom in January and February. The southernmost species in the genus are Acacia dealbata (silver wattle), Acacia longifolia (coast wattle or Sydney golden wattle), Acacia mearnsii (black wattle), and Acacia melanoxylon (blackwood), reaching 43°30' S in Tasmania, Australia. Appearance Acacia auriculiformis is a fast-growing, crooked, gnarly tree in the family Fabaceae. No phone or Wi-Fi connection is required to use the key, making it especially valuable for people working in the field. along with discussion & documentation of Indian Flora. Cyprus 1954 (66) Ashwath N, Houston K, 1990. However, more recent genetic studies have revealed that many species of trees that were once thought to be part of Acacia were actually not as closely related as previously thought, and new genera would have to be introduced to properly classify the different species. Currently, the five genera are as follows: Creekline miniritchie(Acacia cyperophylla), Blackwood, Australian(Acacia melanoxylon), (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). Ltd., Brisbane). Acacia aciphylla. Oldest records of fossil Acacia pollen in Australia are from the late Oligocene epoch, 25 million years ago. Web version Lucid Central Android app Google Play iOS app Apple iTunes This WATTLE v3 key (which is also available as an App) enables users to identify wattle plants that occur anywhere in Australia or elsewhere in the world where they are grown. [3] A few species have cladodes rather than leaves. (coordinator) (2018). now retains the name Acacia. Australia's national floral emblem is Acacia pycnantha, the Golden Wattle. About Information about this tool. The seeds contain as much as 25% more protein than common cereals, and they store well for long periods due to the hard seed coats. Efloraofindia (earlier Indiantreepix) is the largest Google e-group in the world in this field & largest nature related in India devoted to creating awareness, helping in identification etc. The imperial hairstreak, Jalmenus evagoras, feeds on at least 25 acacia species. The WATTLE App delivers the same WATTLE ver. It is a thornless, evergreen tree 26-49 ft. (8-15 m) high. Acacia spp. On the side of Africa, there is centuries of history—including the type species, gum arabic (formerly Acacia nilotica) which may be considered as sort of an anchor for a genus.