Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush
Acacia farnesiana
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 can become invasive. Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. This tree occurs naturally in Australia, Asia and Africa. It will grow on most soils. It is drought and frost resistant. It most commonly grows naturally on clay soils. In Papua New Guinea the plants are coastal below 60 m altitude. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 400-4,000 mm. It can grow in acid or alkaline soils. It can grow in arid places. It is moderately salt tolerant. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan. It grows on atolls.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, America, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canary Islands, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, French Guiana, Guianas, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Martinique, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Monserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The green seed are eaten. The young pods have been recorded as eaten after cooking. They are also made into chutney with dried fish. The gum is eaten. The ground up seeds are eaten. The germinated seeds are claimed to be eaten. The gum is used to prepare sweets. The young leaves are used in India as a substitute for tamarind in chutneys.
It is eaten in Australia but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. Fruit are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Seeds, gum, leaves as condiment, spice, vegetable, pods, flowers
How it is grown
It is grown from seed. They can also be grown from shoots near the base.
It is fast growing. Flowering can occur almost continuously if watering is regular. In northern Australia flowering is normally May to July with pods from September to November.
Its other names
Local names
Akasia manis, Ambar, Ari velam, Bairithai, Baiy goanbili, Cassie flower, Cassie-oil plant, Debena, Fragrant acacia, Gandh babool, Gandharii, Gandhio babul, Gandila bamura, Gaya babul, Gnadhelo babul, Grabur, Huisache, Jait, Kadi vel, Kaipakoa, Kankar, Kapur, Kasturi tuma, Keo thom, Khanghu, Krathin-tet, Mawk-nawn-hkam, Mawurr, Nan-long-kyaing, Nkampi-chibe, Opopanax, Perfumed wattle, Popinac, Sambour meas, Scented babool, Scented Wattle, Semak jarum, Sponge flower, Sponge tree, Sweet acacia, Sweet Mimosa Bush, Tarwa kadam, Te kaibakoa, Tsorofotra, Vilayati kikar, Vinorama, West Indian Blackthorn, Zongta te
Synonyms
Acacia acicularis Willd.; Acacia indica (Poiret) Desv.; Acacia minuta (M. E. Jones) Beauch.; Acacia minuta (M. E. Jones) Beauch. subsp. minuta; Mimosa acicularis Poiret; Mimosa farnesiana L.; Mimosa indica Poiret; Pithecellobium acuminatum M. E. Jones; Pithecellobium minutum M. E. Jones; Poponax farnesiana (L.) Raf.; Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Wight & Arn.; and others