Late black wattle
Acacia mearnsii

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

It grows naturally on black peaty soils, brown sandy clays and along riverbanks and swampy flats. It is best in full sun. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Caribbean, China, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Hawaii, India, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mozambique, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Portugal, Reunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Uganda, USA, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The gum is eaten and dissolved in water and used to make drinks.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Gum, seeds

How it is grown

It is grown from treated seeds.

The gum oozes from the trunk when damaged.

Its other names

Local names

Currong, Garrong, Swartwattel, Warrarakk

Synonyms

Acacia decurrens Willd. var. mollis Lindl.; Racosperma mearnsii (De Wild.) Pedley;