Witchety bush, Cork bark wattle
Acacia coriacea
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 warm temperate plant. It grows in deep, red, sandy soils. It grows naturally in arid and semi arid regions. Soils need to be well drained. It is drought tolerant. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Tasmania, Senegal, West Africa
How it is used for food
The seeds are eaten after being crushed into flour. They can be eaten raw when young or roasted when mature. They can also be steamed in the green pods and eaten like peas.
Edible parts
Pods, flowers, seeds
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The seeds should be immersed in boiling water for one minutes to break seed coat dormancy.
Plants can flower within 2 years of planting.
Its other names
Local names
Awenth ntjirrima, Desert Oak, Dogwood, Irrkili, Kunapuka, Mulupuka, Ntjirrima, Pungkuna, Wirewood, Wiry wattle, Yirrkali