Acacia minyura

Randell

Desert mulga

Fabaceae Edible: Insect galls Potential hazards — see below 6 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Acacia minyura is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae endemic to arid parts of central Australia.

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

Insect galls are eaten.

Medicinal Uses

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

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 subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Acacia minyura is widely spread but scattered through the arid belt of Australia ranging from warm temperate areas that experience some frosts to more tropical, frost-free areas. Plants have the ability to resprout from the root stock after fire or mechanical damage This species intergrades with Acacia ayersiana and Acacia aneura over much of its range, particularly in the southern part of the Northern Territory. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

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 new shoots are enveloped by a thick layer of resin when first initiated. The resin is usually red-brown and translucent in northwestern plants (but often milky blue-grey and opaque elsewhere), aging pale green with a sheen. The copious resin that covers the branchlets is used by some indigenous peoples of central Australia as a cementing agent.