Acacia adsurgens

Maiden et Blakely

Mulga

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds Potential hazards — see below 24 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Acacia adsurgens, commonly known as whipstick wattle or sugar brother, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to northern areas of Australia. It is a spreading shrub with many stems, flat, linear phyllodes, densely-flowered spikes of yellow flowers, and linear, paper-like or crusty pods.

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

Seed - cooked. It can be eaten in the same ways as other small legume seeds and is also ground into a powder then used as a flavouring in desserts or as a nutritious supplement to pastries and breads. A traditional food for the native Australians who roasted and ground the seeds to a paste prior to consumption. The sweetly-scented pods are 4-12 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, containing very dark brown to blackish, narrowly obloid to obloid-ellipsoid seeds 3.5 - 4.5mm long and about 2mm wide. Acacia seeds are highly nutritious and contain around 26% protein, 26% available carbohydrate, 32% fibre and 9% fat. The fat content is higher than most legumes with the aril providing the bulk of fatty acids present. These fatty acids are largely unsaturated. The energy content is high in all species tested, averaging 1480 ±270 kJ per 100g. The seeds are low glycaemic index foods - the starch is digested and absorbed very slowly, producing a small, but sustained rise in blood glucose and so delaying the onset of exhaustion in prolonged exercise. The ground seed can be used to produce a high quality, caffeine-free coffee-like beverage.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The Warlpiri people of Central Australia have used the foliage of this species for medicinal purposes: the phyllodes are boiled and used as a wash for general complaints, or used to smoke babies as a treatment for diarrhoea. The bark of all Acacia species contains greater or lesser quantities of tannins and are astringent. Astringents are often used medicinally - taken internally, for example. they are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery, and can also be helpful in cases of internal bleeding. Applied externally, often as a wash, they are used to treat wounds and other skin problems, haemorrhoids, perspiring feet, some eye problems, as a mouth wash etc. Many Acacia trees also yield greater or lesser quantities of a gum from the trunk and stems. This is sometimes taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and haemorrhoids.

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

It is a tropical plant. It suits warm climates. It requires a well drained soil and a sunny position. It grows well in sandy soil. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

It is grown from seed. The seed needs to be treated to get it to grow. Normally this is by putting the seeds in very hot water and letting the water cool down overnight then planting the seeds immediately. Trees only last for a short time.

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 heartwood is dark brown; it is clearly demarcated from the narrow band of pale sapwood. The wood is very dense, but is generally only available in small dimensions and so is only used for fuel. It makes an excellent fuel and produces one of the best charcoals in Australia's arid belt. This species has excellent potential for planting as low shelter belts and for sand stabilization

Production

It is moderately fast growing. It can grow 2 m tall in 18-24 months.

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	4.6	1513	362	24.5	—	—	16.2	7.4

Also Known As

Ilkirta, Ilkert, Ilwerreny, Alirrinya, Kulaki, Mintilpi, Mintirlpiri, Minyana, Pilarri, Puju-parnta

References (10)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 7
Cancilla, D., 2018, Ethnobotanical and Ethnozoological Values Desktop Assessment - Eliwana Project. p
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 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 120
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 13

Show all 10 references

Hall, N. et al, 1972, The Use of Trees and Shrubs in the Dry Country of Australia, AGPS, Canberra. p 343
J. Proc. Roy. Soc. Western Australia 13:28, t. xx. 1928
Latz, P., 1996, Bushfires and Bushtucker. IAD. p 86
Lister, P.R., P. Holford, T. Haigh, and D.A. Morrison, 1996, Acacia in Australia: Ethnobotany and potential food crop. p. 228-236. In: J. Janick (ed.), Progress in new crops. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 297