Acacia torulosa
Acacia torulosa
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. ]. A noxious dust is given off from the seeds during processing in commercial quantities[ 1300 Title Australian Trees and Shrubs: Species for Land Rehabilitation and Farm Planting in the Tropics Publication Author Doran J.C.; Turnbull J.W. (Editors) Publisher Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Canbe Year 1997 ISBN 1-86320-127-0 Description A very informative book, rich in information about the uses, cultivation needs and very much more for over 160 species of Australian trees and shrubs. ]. 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 torulosa is a slightly resinous, spreading shrub or a tree with a wide crown; it is usually up to 8 metres tall, but can reach 12 metres[ 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. , 1300 Title Australian Trees and Shrubs: Species for Land Rehabilitation and Farm Planting in the Tropics Publication Author Doran J.C.; Turnbull J.W. (Editors) Publisher Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Canbe Year 1997 ISBN 1-86320-127-0 Description A very informative book, rich in information about the uses, cultivation needs and very much more for over 160 species of Australian trees and shrubs. ]. Although it produces true leaves as a seedling, like most members of this section of the genus, the mature plant does not have true leaves but has leaf-like flattened stems called phyllodes[ 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. ]. The seed is a traditional food for the native Australians. They are highly nutritious and the plant has been recommended as a new food crop for arid tropical regions[ 1294 Title Potential of Australian Acacias in combating hunger in semi-arid lands Publication Conservation Science W. Aust. 4 (3):161-169 (2002) Author Rinaudo A.; Patel P.; Thomson L.A.J. Publisher Year 2002 ISBN Description ]. The plant is also used in soil reclamation projects and is grown as an ornamental.