Acacia melanoxylon

Population Trend:

Growing

Uses as Product: Berry/Nut/Seed Product: No • Christmas Tree Product: No • Fodder Product: No • Fuelwood Product: None • Lumber Product: No • Naval Store Product: No • Nursery Stock Product: Yes • Post Product: No • Protein Potential: Low • Pulpwood Product: No • Veneer Product: No

Edibility: Palatable Browse Animal: Low • Palatable Human: No • Toxicity: None

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Acacia arcuata Spreng.
2. Acacia melanoxylon var. arcuata (Spreng.)Ser.
3. Acacia melanoxylon var. obtusifolia Ser.
4. Acacia melanoxylum R.Br.
5. Mimosa melanoxylon (R.Br.)Poir.
6. Racosperma melanoxylon (R.Br.)Pedley

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Rico M.L., 1994

Place of publication: W. T. Aiton, Hortus kew. ed. 2, 5:462. 1813

Name verified on 05-May-2000 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 14-Dec-2000

Physical Description

Subfamily Mimosoideae:

Mostly trees or shrubs. Leaves mostly bipinnate. Corolla usually not showy, actinomorphic, sympetalous, the lobes valvate. Stamens 10-numerous, often monadelphous, showy. Pollen released in monads, tetrads, or polyads. Seeds with u-shaped line (pleurogram) present. [Carr]

Genus Acacia:

Trees, shrubs, rarely herbs, often prickly or spinose. Leaves bipinnate; leaflets small and numerous or leaves reduced to phyllodes; petiolar glands often present; stipules generally spinescent. Inflorescence cylindric spike or globose head; peduncle solitary axillary or fasciculate or paniculate at the end of branches; bracts often two, scale like, situated on the peduncle at various levels. Flowers small, 3-5-merous, bisexual or plants polygamous. Calyx campanulate, dentate, lobed or polysepalous. Petals usually more or less united, rarely absent. Stamens indefinite, free or shortly and irregularly connate at the base; anthers small, eglandular. Ovary sessile or stipitate, with 2 or more ovules. Fruit ovate to linear, straight, arcuate or contorted, membranous to woody, rarely articulated or moniliform. Seed large, with a filiform funicle or fleshy aril.

A genus with about 900 species; distributed mainly in tropics and subtropics, especially in Africa and Australia.^[1]

Species Acacia melanoxylon:

"Unarmed, evergreen tree 8-15 (sometimes up to 45) m high; trunk straight, crown dense and pyramidal to cylindrical, sometimes with heavy spreading branches. Leaves: Bipinnate (feathery) leaves on seedlings and coppice shoots turn into phyllodes. Phyllodes are 7-10 cm long, greyish turning dark dull-green, straight to slightly curved, with 3-7 prominent longitudinal veins and fine net-veins between; often bipinnate on young plants and coppice shoots. Flowers: Pale yellow, globular flower heads. Fruits: Reddish-brown pods, narrower than leaves, slightly constricted, twisted; flat roundish shiny black seeds 2-3 mm long, seeds almost encircled by pinkish-red seed stalks (aril)" (Henderson, 1995. In PIER, 2002). It has a shallow root system with dense, surface feeder roots.

Habit: Shrub, Tree • Climbing: Not Climbing • Growth Form: Multiple Stem • Shape and Orientation: Erect

Flowers: Bloom Period: Early Spring • Flower Color: White • Flower Conspicuous: Yes

Seeds: Seed per Pound: 31200 • Seed Spread Rate: Slow • Seedling Vigor: Medium • Fruit/Seed Abundance: High • Fruit/Seed Color: Brown • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes • Cold Stratification Required: No

Foliage: Foliage Color: Dark Green • Foliage Porosity Summer: Moderate • Foliage Porosity Winter: Moderate • Foliage Texture: Fine • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: Yes

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Native: New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.

Habitat

Native to rainforests in Australia, from the Atherton Tableland (17 and #176S) in Queensland above 500 m above sea level to central Tasmania (43 and #176S) between sea level and 1000 m above sea level (Farell and Ashton, 1978; Jennings, 2002). In these areas, it occurs as an understorey tree in wet eucalypt forests, as a pioneer to co-dominant trees in riverine rainforest and as a dominant tree in blackwood/teatree swamps in northwest Tasmaniua. It is best adapted to cooler, moist sites.In South Africa it invades forest edges or gaps, wooded kloofs, grassland and watercourses (Henderson, 1995, in PIER, 2002), but shows no invasive tendencies in New Zealand.It tolerates drought, poor drainage, any soil, salt air, gusty, steady or cold winds if grown in open, fog, smog, temperature extremes, sun or shade (FUF).

Biome

agricultural areas, coastland, disturbed areas, estuaries, natural forest, planted forests, range/grasslands, riparian zones, scrub/shrublands, urban areas, wetlands

Ecology

Replaces native non-tree vegetation, such as grassland and shrubland, and transforms such habitats. It invades the understorey of relatively open pine and eucalypt plantations (Geldenhuys, 1986 and 1996). Tree stands facilitate the establishment of natural evergreen forest species and the development of regrowth forest (Geldenhuys, 1996). Windfalls obstruct water flow along invaded streams and rivers. Root suckering, it may require root barriers when planted for landscaping in built-up areas (FUF).

Reproduction

Seed dispersal: The pink-red aril attracts birds for dispersal of the seed. Once birds in host-countries become adapted to feeding on the pink-red aril around the seed, the seed is dispersed widely, as in South Africa. It is possible that in host countries where the species has not become invasive, birds and/or other frugivores were not forced by food shortages (as result of drought or other natural phenomena) to switch to this food source. Soil-stored seed banks develop that can remain viable for many years. Seeds germinate easily when placed in hot (boiling water) over night, or when soil-stored seeds are heated by the sun (in disturbed or exposed sites), or after fire (Hill, 1982). Acacia melanoxylon reproduces prolifically after fire. Vegetative regrowth: Coppice shoots develop from cut and damaged stems, and from damaged roots. (Geldenhuys, pers.comm. 2003)

Duration: Perennial • Coppice Potential: Yes • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: Yes • Propagated by Seed: Yes • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: No • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Summer • Fruit/Seed Period End: Fall • Fruit/Seed Persistence: Yes • Fruit/Seed Persistence: Yes

Growth

Culture: Space 6-8' apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: None • Salinity Tolerance: Low • CaCO3 Tolerance: Low • Minimum pH: 6.0 • Maximum pH: 8.3 • Fertility Requirement: Low

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade. • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High • Minimum Precipitation: 16 • Maximum Precipitation: 40 • Moisture Use: Medium

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): 14 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 180

Similar Species

Members of the genus Acacia:

There are approximately 2,924 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: A. acuminata burkitii · A. angustissima smithii · A. aspera parviceps · A. ataxiphylla magna · A. bivenosa bivenosa · A. bivenosa wayi · A. disparrima calidestris · A. euthycarpa oblanceolata · A. farnesiana minuta · A. farnesiana pinetorum · A. julifera curvinervia · A. solandri solandri · A. sphacelata recurva · A. sphacelata verticillata · A. stipuligera stipuligera · A. tortilis campoptila · A. victoriae arida · A. yemenensis obtusifoliolata · A. hanburyana · A. 'Cascade' · A. 'Clair de Lune' · A. 'Mireille' · A. 'Rustica' · A. 'Winter Gold' · A. 05ana · A. abbatiana · A. abbreviata · A. abrupta · A. abstergens · A. abyssinica · A. abyssinica abyssinica · A. abyssinica calophylla · A. acanthaster · A. acanthocarpa var. uncinella · A. acanthoclada · A. acanthoclada acanthoclada · A. acanthoclada glaucescens · A. acanthoclada subsp. glaucescens · A. acanthoclada var. glaucescens · A. acanthophora · A. acatlensis · A. acellerata · A. acinacea (Gold Dust Wattle) · A. acinacea 'Ruby Tips' · A. acinacea var. acinacea · A. acinacea var. brevipedunculata · A. aciphylla · A. aciphylla var. aciphylla · A. acoma · A. acradena · A. acradenia · A. acrionastes · A. acuaria · A. acuifera · A. aculeaticarpa · A. aculeatissima · A. aculeiformis · A. acuminata (Raspberry Jam) · A. acuminata acuminata (Raspberry Jam) · A. acuminata burkittii · A. acuminata subsp. burkitii · A. acuminata var. acuminata · A. acutangula · A. acutata · A. acutistipula · A. adenanthera · A. adenocalyx · A. adenocarpa · A. adenogonia · A. adenopa · A. adenophora · A. adenostylis · A. adhaerens · A. adhaerens var. parviceps · A. adherens · A. adinophylla · A. adnata · A. adoxa · A. adoxa var. adoxa · A. adoxa var. subglabra · A. adoxa x · A. adpressa · A. adsurgens · A. adunca (Wallangarra Wattle) · A. aegyptiaca · A. aemula · A. aemula aemula · A. aemula muricata · A. aemula subsp. muricata · A. aestivalis · A. alata · A. alata var. alata · A. alata var. biglandulosa · A. alata var. glabrata · A. alata var. platyptera · A. alata var. tetrantha · A. alaticaulis · A. alaticaulisTindale · A. albescens · A. albicorticata (Aromo)

Bibliography

• Boutelje, J. B. 1980. Encyclopedia of world timbers, names and technical literature. (Ency WTimber)
• Burbidge, N. T. & M. Gray. 1970. Flora of the Australian Capital Territory. (F AustCapT)
• Conant, P. et al. 1997. Appendix. Selected plant species interfering with resource management goals in North American natural areas. In J. O. Luken & J. W. Thieret, eds., Assessment and management of plant invasions. (Pl Invasion)
• Curtis, W. M. & D. I. Morris. 1956–. The student's flora of Tasmania. (SF Tasman)
• Dr Coert J. Geldenhuys, Forestwood cc, P O Box 228, La Montagne, Pretoria 0184, South Africa.
• Graham, E. H. 1941. Legumes for erosion control and wildlife. USDA Misc. Publ. 412. (Leg ErWild)
• Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12. (Weeds SAfr 2001)
• Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11. (L Aust)
• Jessop, J. P. & H. R. Toelken, eds. 1986. Flora of South Australia, ed. 4. (F SAust)
• Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. (Hortus 3)
• Maslin, B. R. & L. Pedley. 1982. The distribution of Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Australia. Part 1. Species distribution maps. Res. Notes W. Austral. Herb. 6:78.
• Maslin, B. R. & R. S. Cowan. 1995. Robert Brown, the typification of his new Acacia names in edition 2 of Aiton's "Hortus Kewensis". Nuytsia 10:115.
• Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970–. Flora of [West] Pakistan. (F Pak) [cultivated].
• Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk, (PIER, 2002)
• Pedley, L. 1978. A revision of Acacia Mill. in Queensland. Austrobaileya 1:222.
• Pedley, L. 1987. Racosperma Martius (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Queensland: a checklist. Austrobaileya 2:352. [= Racosperma melanoxylon (R. Br.) Mart.].
• Timberlake, J. et al. 1999. Field guide to the acacias of Zimbabwe. (FG Acacia Zimbabwe)
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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 14, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 24 providers.
• ILDIS World Database of LegumesNov 10, 2005.
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 24, 2008)

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 14, 2007:

• Australian National Herbarium
• , Australian National Herbarium
• Berkeley Natural History Museums, University and Jepson Herbaria DiGIR provider
• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Bishop Museum Natural History Specimen Data
• GBIF-Spain, Aranzadi Zientzi Elkartea
• GBIF-Spain, Dirección General de Investigación, Desarrollo Tecnológico e Innovación de la Junta de Extremadura(DGIDTI): HSS
• GBIF-Spain, Herbario Universidad de Málaga: MGC-Cormófitos
• GBIF-Spain, Institut Botanic de Barcelona, BC
• GBIF-Spain, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba: Herbarium COA
• GBIF-Spain, Real Jardin Botanico
• , Vascular Plant Herbarium
• GBIF-Spain, Universidad del País Vasco/EHU, Bilbao: Herbario BIO
• GBIF-Spain, Universitat de Girona: HGI-Cormophyta
• Herbario SANT, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, SANT herbarium vascular plant collection
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• National Herbarium of New South Wales, NSW herbarium collection
• Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum
• UK National Biodiversity Network, Botanical Society of the British Isles - Vascular Plants Database
• USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 26431
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13626011
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:470873-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PDFAB020M0
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: ACME
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 7101

Footnotes:

1. "Acacia". in Flora of Pakistan. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.