Acacia monticola

J.M. Black

Red Wattle, Turpentine

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds, Roots Potential hazards — see below 81 iNaturalist observations

fodderfuellandscape architecturenitrogen fixationornamental

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Summary

Acacia monticola, commonly known as red wattle, gawar, curly-bark wattle, curly-bark tree and hill turpentine, is a species of plant in the legume family that is native to northern Australia. Indigenous Australians have other names for the plant, the Yindjibarndi peoples know it as burduwayi, the Ngarluma as burduwari, the Nyangumarta call it kawarr and the Kurrama peoples know it as mangkalangu.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten; roots are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The seed is eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Traditionally eaten as seeds for nutrition.

Known 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.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. This tree grows naturally in inland Australia. It will grow on most kinds of soil. It prefers an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. It mostly occurs on small mountains or hills. It suits hot arid places. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

It is grown from seed.

Propagation

The seed of most, if not all, members of this genus has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Acacia seeds that have matured fully on the bush and have been properly dried have a hard seed coat and can be stored in closed containers without deterioration for 5 - 10 years or more in dry conditions at ambient temperatures. It is best to remove the aril, which attracts weevils and can lead to moulds forming. The arils are easilyremoved by placing the seeds in water and rubbing them between the hands, then drying the seeds and winnowing them.

Other Uses

The wood is very hard and strong, and appears to be highly resistant to termite attacks. It is used for gates and light fences on rural properties. It is used traditionally for making spearheads, digging sticks, boomerangs etc. The wood is used for fuel, and has some potential for the production of small-sized firewood in dry areas.

Notes

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Seed	9.5	1478	354	11.2	—	—	9.3	8

Also Known As

Pindan minni ritchi

References (12)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 26
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 42, 188
Doran, J.C., & Turnbull, J.W. (Eds), 1997, Australian Trees and Shrubs: species for land rehabilitation and farm plantings in the tropics. ACIAR Monograph No 24. p 349
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 85
Kenneally, K.E., Edinger, D. C., and Willing T., 1996, Broome and Beyond, Plants and People of the Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley, Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management. p 131

Show all 12 references

Latz, P., 1996, Bushfires and Bushtucker. IAD. p 109
Milson. J., 2000, Trees and Shrubs of north-west Queensland. DPI p 138
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 316
Pennock, A., et al, Australian Dry-zone Acacias for Human Food: Proceedings of a Workshop.
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 61
Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. South Australia 61:246. 1937
Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 314