Acacia maidenii

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Acacia maidenii

Acacia maidenii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Acacia
Species: A. maidenii
Binomial name
Acacia maidenii
F. Muell.[1]

Native range of Acacia maidenii
Synonyms

Racosperma maidenii (F. Muell.) Pedley[2]

Acacia maidenii, also known as Maiden's Wattle, is a tree native to Australia (New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria). It has been introduced into India (Tamil Nadu) and Argentina, and it grows on plantations in South Africa.[2] It prefers full sun to partial shade and it is often found on the edge of the rainforest.[3] It grows up to 15 m in height by 10-15 m in width.[4] The phyllodes are dark green, alternate along the stem and reach 20 cm in length and 1 to 3 cm in width.[5] It is very fast growing, reaching 1.5 m tall in as little as 5 months.[6] Its flowers are has pale yellow spikes up to 6 cm long[5] that often occur in clusters of 2 to 3.[4] The fruit is hairy, about 15 cm long and narrow,[4] often becoming coiled.[3] In Australia it is listed as being an endangered species.[7] The tree has a lifespan of more than 30 years.[8] It grows approximately 1 m per year.[9] It is frost tolerant down to -7 °C[10] (about 19 °F), but it is not drought tolerant, so irrigation may be necessary in some growing areas.[6] In its natural range, it tends to grow in places with an average maximum temperature of about 25°C, but it also exists in a range of 22-32°C avg. max. temp.[11] It tends to grow primarily in areas near the coast averaging 1200-1600 mm/year of rainfall, but overall it is found to some extent in an areas ranging 600-2000 mm/year of rainfall.[11]

Contents

[edit] Uses

It makes an attractive ornamental tree along streets and in parks.[9] It is very good for reforestation in suitable areas. The exudates from the trunk (like gum or pitch) have been used in the past for food by indigenous Australians.[12]

The bark contains 0.36% of the hallucinogen DMT as well as 0.24% of N-methyltryptamine. When smoked, the bark gives a mild hallucinogenic effect. It is also a common admixture ingredient to Australian Ayahuasca brews.[13]

[edit] Cultivation

USDA Zone 9 is recommended.[4] Acacia maidenii does well in all types of soil, except those that are waterlogged for lengthy periods of time.[9] The tree's seeds number about 65 seeds/g.[4] Acacia maidenii can be propagated from seed, but, in order to increase the germination rate, the seed should be treated first. It can be soaked in hot water or the seed can be nicked or otherwise mechanically scarified, so that water will penetrate the seed's hard coating and induce germination.

Germination is highest at temperatures between 21-27°C.[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Acacia maidenii information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?924. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
  2. ^ a b "Acacia maidenii - ILDIS LegumeWeb". www.ildis.org. http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?sciname=Acacia+maidenii. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 
  3. ^ a b "Action Statement No. 36 - Maiden's Wattle". www.tacethno.com. http://www.tacethno.com/info/acacia/actionstatement.html. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 
  4. ^ a b c d e "Acacia maidenii from B & T World Seeds". www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com. http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/carth.asp?species=Acacia%20maidenii&sref=21075. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 
  5. ^ a b "Master List". 64.233.167.104. http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:ALT8uh242-wJ:www.cubberlawitton.org/__data/page/8295/CubberlaWittonPlantsWebPageOct03.xls+cultivation+%22acacia+maidenii%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=89&gl=us&ie=UTF-8. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 
  6. ^ a b "Acacia Maidenii". 209.85.171.104. http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=es%7Cen&u=http://psicodioscorides.com/p_2.htm. Retrieved on 2008-05-04. 
  7. ^ Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2003
  8. ^ Lycaeum
  9. ^ a b c "Acacia maidenii". www.metrotrees.com.au. http://www.metrotrees.com.au/treehandbook/page-listings/acacia-maidenii.html. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
  10. ^ "Australian National Botanic Gardens - Growing Acacia". www.anbg.gov.au. http://www.anbg.gov.au/acacia/species/A-maidenii.html. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
  11. ^ a b "Australia's Virtual Herbarium Map Interface". www.rbg.vic.gov.au. http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/cgi-bin/avhpublic/avh.cgi. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 
  12. ^ "Indigenous (Post Contact)". www.mountainstomangroves.org. http://www.mountainstomangroves.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=118. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 
  13. ^ Ayahuasca - Plant constituents
  14. ^ "Acacia maidenii in Profile". www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com. http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/21075.htm. Retrieved on 2008-05-06. 

[edit] External links


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