Georgina gidgee
Acacia georginae
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. Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
Plants naturally occur in clumps together along streams. They occur on loam soils and heavy clay soils. It is very drought and frost resistant. It suits hot arid areas. (Rainfall 22-28 cm and temperatures of over 23°C mean maximum.)
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), North America, USA
How it is used for food
The gum is eaten. (Due to fluoracetic acid the pods, seeds and leaves are poisonous including to stock.)
Edible parts
Gum, grubs
How it is grown
It is grown from seed.
It is slow growing and long lived.
Its other names
Local names
Gidyea