Mulga, Yarran
Acacia aneura

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 is a subtropical plant. It occurs throughout most of Australia in the drier central areas. It grows in areas with a rainfall below 400 mm per year. It prefers a light well drained soil. It can grow in alkaline soils. t is suited to dry open sunny positions. It mostly occurs on flat red earth plains. Often it grows in pure stands. It is drought and frost resistant. In Africa it grows up to 2,000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. Mulga is killed by fire. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, Egypt, Hawaii, Israel, Kenya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Pacific, Pakistan

How it is used for food

The seeds are ground into flour. The seed tastes like peanut butter and is nutritious. Galls on the tree are used to quench thirst. The bark exudes a gum that is edible. Water can sometimes be found in the roots. A sweet, red lerp that forms on the leaves and branches is eaten.

One of the most important edible acacia seed species in the desert areas of Australia.

Edible parts

Seeds, flowers, gum, manna, gall, lerp

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. Seed needs to be treated before it will grow. Normally this is by putting the seeds in very hot water and letting the water cool down overnight then planting the seeds immediately. Seed can be harvested by shaking from the tree or by raking it up off the ground.

Flowering is mainly April to July or following rain. If good following rains do not occur many flowers simply fall without forming pods and seeds. Following good rains, insect attack produces galls 1 cm across with a juicy yellow flesh. These are edible. The galls with small protuberances are the ones which are edible. The honey dew from the lerp insect (Austrotachardia acaciae) is also edible. It is soaked in water to produce drinks. Yields of seed from wild stands of mulga can be 100 kg per hectare.

Its other names

Local names

Artety, Artitja, Irtetye, Ititja, Kurku, Manytja, Mulga apples, Wanari

Synonyms

Acacia brachystachya; Racosperma aneurum (Benth.) Pedley;