Acacia tetragonophylla

Acacia tetragonophylla commonly known as curara, kurara or dead finish, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae that is endemic to arid and semi-arid parts of central and western Australia. It is a tall, prickly shrub with round, yellow ball flowers.

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 raw, cooked in the pod, or crushed into flour when mature, with a nutty flavor. The tree also frequently contains edible grubs in its roots.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten raw. In some places the seeds are cooked in the pod. They are also eaten when mature after being crushed into flour. They are eaten uncooked. They have a nutty flavour. The tree also often has edible grubs in its roots.

Medicinal Uses

Aboriginal people in Central Australia collect the seeds to make seedcakes. Its name in Pitjantjajara is Wakalpuka. Acacia tetragonophylla can be used to treat warts.

Known 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. Especially when harvesting from the wild, especial care should be taken to ensure correct identification of any plants harvested for food. 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

A native of inland Australia. It will grow on most soils, but is most common on sandy soils near water courses. It prefers an open sunny position. It is drought and frost resistant. It suits arid and semi arid places. It mostly grows south of 21°S latitude. In its area of growth the rainfall is often only 18-25 mm per year. The temperature in the hottest month may be around 24°C. It cannot tolerate fire. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

It is grown from seed. The seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat. Normally this is by putting the seeds in very hot water and letting the water cool down overnight then planting the seeds immediately. It can also be grown by cuttings.

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 reddish brown wood has pinkish stripes and smells of violets when cut. It is close-grained, heavy, hard and tough, but is generally too small for anything except tool handles. It is used traditionally to make boomerangs. This species has been recommended for revegetation on a variety of soil types in the Midlands and northern wheatbelt regions of Western Australia. It is regarded as being suited to revegetating drainage lines in these areas. However, it has also been reported that althoughthe plant is commonly used in rehabilitation in the goldfields the results are generally poor. The plant is reported to be a useful soil binder in sandy areas. With its prickly phyllodes, this species can form a dense, impenetrable barrier. When grown in combination with Acacia colletioides a particularly effective live fence could be produced.

Production

It is slow growing. Flowering is from June to December. Seed is produce in autumn.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Also Known As

Alkitjirra, Curara, Jilkuru, Kurara, Wakalpuka

References (16)

• Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 28
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 35
• Boomsma, C.D., 1972, Native Tree of South Australia. Woods & Forests Department South Australia, Bulletin No.19. p 49
• Cancilla, D., 2018, Ethnobotanical and Ethnozoological Values Desktop Assessment - Eliwana Project. p 9
• 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 p 47 (As Acacia genistoides)

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