Fabaceae FAMILY

Acacia decurrens

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Especially in times of drought, many Acacia species can concentrate high levels of the toxin Hydrogen cyanide in their foliage, making them dangerous for herbivores to eat.

Botanical Description

Acacia decurrens is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually growing no more than 5 - 15 metres tall, though larger specimens up to 22 metres are known. Able to spread by means of suckers, the plant can form dense thickets[ 365 Title Flora of New South Wales Publication Author Website http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants. , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is commonly cultivated for the tannins in its bark; its wood, fue and charcoal; and also for pulp. It is sometimes grown as a shade tree, and is also used for wind protection and as an ornamental, where it is valued especially for its floral display, in regions from the warm temperate to the tropical zone[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. Often cultivated as an ornamental and for its many uses, in favourable conditions Acacia decurrens has become an invasive weed, spreading by means of seeds and suckers. It is listed as invasive in several countries, including New Zealand, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Hawaii[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeAustralia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.

HabitatSheltered forests, mainly on shales and sandstone[ 153 Title Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Publication Author Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1991 ISBN 0-19-558229-2 Description An interesting and readable book on the useful plants of New Zealand. ]. Usually on cool moist hills and gullies[ 167 Title A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Publication Author Holliday. I. and Hill. R. Publisher Frederick Muller Ltd. Year 1974 ISBN 0-85179-627-3 Description A well illustrated and very readable book, but it does not contain much information for the plant project. ]. Grows in open forest or woodland, on hillsides or gullies, usually on shale[ 286 Title Flora of Australia Publication Author Website http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource. ].