Red-eyed wattle, Western coastal wattle
Acacia cyclops

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 has become a weed problem in South Africa. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in sandy and limestone soils along the coast in SW regions of Western Australia. It is tolerant of salty conditions. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, Mediterranean, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Southern Africa, St Helena, Tasmania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are collected and ground into a powder then mixed with water and baked into cakes. The gum from the stems is also edible. Edible grubs bore into the stems.

Edible parts

Seeds, gum, grubs

How it is grown

Plants are grown from treated seed.

Its other names

Local names

Rooikrans, Wilyawa, Woolya wah

Synonyms

Acacia cyclopsis G. Don;