BLACK ACACIA - EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z

Acacia is a genus containing more than 1000 species of various shrubs and trees. The name comes from the Greek word "edge". This is because in most species needles or hairs grow on the tips of the leaves.

Black or black acacia is a durable tree, growing up to 30 m, from the family of legumes.

Its wood is durable, valued for its decorativeness and offered to consumers under the name Australian ebony.

Used as fuel, in the furniture industry, for the manufacture of wooden parts of musical and working tools. It is widely used in the production of interior doors, which in their quality are not inferior to walnut.

Characteristic

Root system strong, has a main core, from which there are numerous branchings, mainly in the upper soil layer. Due to it, a tall, spreading tree is kept in the ground.

Trunk straight, short, very thick - with a diameter of 0.5 m to 1 m. In the upper part of the trunk there are strong, branched branches, which are formed in a wide spreading crown in the form of a bush.

Bark brown color with a light gray glossy coating. On its surface there are cracks and dark stripes located along the trunk. In the black Acacia bark contains about 10% tannins - tannins. Thanks to them, they are used for medicinal purposes in traditional medicine. It has astringent and hemostatic effect, has anti-inflammatory properties.

Leaves have a double-pinnate shape. But often the lamina is not fully disclosed and its function is performed by the enlarged petiole. It is called phyllodius. Fillodia matte, green, lanceolate, sometimes saber-shaped. Their length is from 6 to 10 cm, and the width is about 3 cm. On the tops are pinnate leaves.

Bracts have four sides, expanding upwards in the head with brown hairs.

Inflorescence racemose, rare. Contains from 1 to 6 round fluffy flowers diameter 0.5 cm - 1 cm, which are formed on the legs up to 1 cm long. Cup consists of 5 wide rounded fused sepalscovered with hairs brown. Petals yellow, half-grown; a bunch of dark cilia grows on their slightly pointed tops. Lots of stamens on long threads have small anthers yellow color. Fat column above stamens. During flowering, it emits a pleasant scent.

After flowering appear fruit - flattened brown beans with a length of up to 15 cm and a width of about a centimeter. In each of them there are from 3 to 10 bean-shaped narrow, black, glossy seed. Funicle red - brown, wavy, wraps the seed 2 times.

Places of growth

About 700 species grow in Australia. Black Acacia is one of them. Its natural habitat is the highland forests of the states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the island of Tasmania (Van Diemen Land).

In some nations, it is considered a symbol of immortality. The ancient Egyptians greatly revered this tree.

It is very valuable for its wood. Can be grown in parks and gardens.