Fabaceae FAMILY

Acacia paradoxa

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

The seed of many Acacia species, including this one, is edible and highly nutritious, and can be eaten safely as a fairly major part of the diet. Not all species are edible, however, and some can contain moderate levels of toxins[ 1295 Title Acacia in Australia: Ethnobotany and Potential Food Crop Publication Janick (ed.), Progress in new crops pp 228-236, (1996) ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. Author Lister P.R.; Holford P.; Haigh T.; Morrison D.A. Website https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-toc.html Publisher ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. Year 1996 ISBN 0-9615027-3-8 Description ]. Especially when harvesting from the wild, especial care should be taken to ensure correct identification of any plants harvested for food[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ]. 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 paradoxa is an erect or spreading, thorny, evergreen shrub that can grow 1 - 4 metres tall[ 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. ]. Although it produces leaves as a seedling, llike most members of the genus the mature plant does not have true leaves but has leaf-like flattened stems called phyllodes[ 397 Title Australian Native Plants Society Publication Author Website http://anpsa.org.au/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A series of fact sheets on Australian plants. Good photographs, brief description and information on uses, habitat, range, cultivation etc. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is grown as an ornamental, and can be used as a hedge. The plant is naturalized in the United States and is invasive in South Africa. It invades exposed erosion slopes, valleys, pine plantations, agricultural lands and fynbos. Its dense growth may potentially reduce the abundance of native species. The seeds are dispersed by ants, they tolerate diverse environmental conditions and have the potential to colonise the land[ 1049 Title SANBI Invasive Alien Plant Alert Publication Author South African National Biodiversity Institute Website http://www.sanbi.org/information-resources/infobases/invasive-alien-plant-alert Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A series of leaflets on invasive plant species produced on the Internet and available for download ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAustralia - Southern Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

HabitatGrows in dry sclerophyl forests[ 265 Title Flora of the Sydney Region Publication Author Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Publisher Reed. Australia. Year 1993 ISBN 0730104001 Description Concise flora with little beyond an extensive key, species descriptions, very brief habitat description. ]. Usually grows in woodland or open forest[ 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. ]. Found in a wide range of habitats, growing in various soil types[ 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. ].