| Etymology | Genus | Thorny, referring to the thorns in certain species (this speces is thornless) |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Said to resemble "mangge" or mangroves in Indonesia | |
| Family | Fabaceae | |
| Synonyms | Mangium montanum Rumph. | |
| Common Names | Black Wattle, Broadleaf Salwood | |
| Status | Exotic: Naturalised | |
| Form | Tree | |
| Native Distribution | Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia | |
Diagnostics:
Acacia mangium is a common naturalised tree found in open forests. The phyllodes are broad with veins parallel to its margins.
It looks very similar to its congener Acacia auriculiformis, except that the phyllodes are broader and the inflorescences are light yellow to white, instead of bright yellow. It also does not appear dominate an area like A. auriculiformis, occurring more sparingly.
Interesting Facts:
The "leaves" of the Black Wattle are actually modified leaf stalks (called phyllodes) which are flattened and enlarged. In its native region, it is found in a wide range of habitats, from primary forests to grasslands and mangrove fringes (Orwa et al., 2009).
The germinating seeds can be cooked and consumed as vegetables. The wood is used for construction, boat building and furniture making.
A lone tree at Bukit Timah Road.
Broad phyllodes.
Bark
Light yellow inflorescences.
Legumes.
References
Orwa C, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R & Anthony S (2009) Agroforestry Database 4.0 http://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2. Accessed on 20-Oct-2020.
Author: Jake
Posted: 2020-10-19 / Modified: 2020-10-20