Acacia salicina

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Description

Acacia salicina is a thornless species of Acacia tree native to Australia.

Common names include Cooba, Native Willow, Willow Wattle, Broughton Willow.

It is a large shrub or small evergreen^[2] tree growing 3 to 20 m tall.^[3] It has a life span of about 10-15 years. In the Northern Hemisphere, Acacia salicina flowers primarily from October to January and the seed pods are often visible from April to July.^[4]The tree's seeds are shiny, black and have a crimson appendage-like aril.^[5] Acacia salicina is "closely related" to Acacia ligulata^[6] and Acacia bievenosa.^[7]

Chemical Compounds

Wood

• (-)-7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavanone^[8]
• 7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxydihydroflavonol^[8]
• 7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavonol^[8]

Natural growing conditions

A. salicina is found parts of Eastern Australia. The average yearly precipitation over the entire range is 375-550mm, with the plant itself found growing in regions receiving in excess of 1500mm annually in northern Queensland and as low as 100mm annuall in central Australia. Its natural altitude range is from 50-300m above sea level.^[5] It does well in full sun exposure and it tolerates frosts down to -6.7 deg. C (-20 deg. F).^[2]

Uses

Erosion management

A. salicina can be used to help stabilize riverbanks and other areas.^[9]

Fodder

The tree's foliage and seed pods are important fodder for livestock during dry periods, since the tree can withstand drought quite well.^[9] Its foliage and pods compare quite poorly to other fodders with regard to digestibility by livestock. This affects its available nutritional value.^[10]

Food

The seeds are edible.^[9]

Landscaping

A. salicina is excellent for landscaping in dry areas.^[9]

Tannin

The bark has a high tannin content.^[9]

Wood

  The wood is very hard and it is used in making fine furniture.^[9]At one time, the tree's wood was used in the manufacture of axles for wagon wheels. Acacia salicina's wood burns nicely and makes good fuel.^[9] Its calorific content is 18900kJ/kg dry mass.^[10] The tree produces seed and timber for woodworking in as little as five years after planting.^[11]

Other uses

The bark has been traditionally put to use by Indigenous Australians as a toxin for fishing.^[9] The leaves of A. salicina are thought to be psychoactive, since indigenous Australians "burn its leaves and smoke the ash to obtain a state of inebriation."^[12]

References

1. ^ ILDIS LegumeWeb
2. ^ ^{a b} Gardens At Carefree Town Center - Plant Identification List
3. ^ PlantNet - FloraOnline - Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia
4. ^ PDF Ursula K. Schuch and Margaret Norem, Growth of Legume Tree Species Growing in the Southwestern United States, University of Arizona.
5. ^ ^{a b} Species Bank Treatment for Acacia Salicina
6. ^ Fact Sheet for Acacia ligulata
7. ^ WorldWideWattle
8. ^ ^{a b c} Australian Journal of Chemistry
9. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Acacia Salicina
10. ^ ^{a b} Acacia Search
11. ^ [1] Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management, Autumn 2003 Issue 27 p. 8]
12. ^ Handbook Of Medicinal Plants By Zohara. Yaniv, Uriel Bachrach