Silver wattle
Acacia dealbata

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 temperate plant. It can grow on stony soils and creekbanks. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Azores, Central America, Chile, China, Costa Rica, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indochina, Italy, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, North America, Portugal, Reunion, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are the source of mimosa absolute used to flavour baked goods, drinks, dairy foods and puddings. It is also the source of gum arabic. The gum was dissolved in water to make a sweet drink.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Gum, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from treated seed.

Its other names

Local names

Akacija, Akasia, Aromo, Giigandul, Mimosa, Muyan

Synonyms

Acacia decurrens var. dealbata (Link.) Muller; Racosperma dealbatum (Link.) Pedley;