Australian blackwood
Acacia melanoxylon

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. This one can become invasive. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It occurs naturally in the cooler parts of Australia. It prefers rich loamy soils. It needs a protected position. It cannot tolerate drought. It is resistant to frost. It can stand light shade. In Indonesia it grows between 1,500-2,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canary Is., Caucasus, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Greece, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tasmania (country/location of origin), Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The gum is eaten. The seed are edible.

Edible parts

Seeds, gum

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. The seeds are first soaked in boiling water. If the roots are damaged it produces suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon kayuitem

Synonyms

Racosperma melanoxylon (W. Aiton) Martius; and others