Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.

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Acacia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Dam 2, Southern Loop, Nyika National Park

Acacia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Dam 2, Southern Loop, Nyika National Park

Acacia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Dam 2, Southern Loop, Nyika National Park

Acacia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Dam 2, Southern Loop, Nyika National Park

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names: Australian blackwood (English) Black wattle (English)
Frequency:
Status: Introduced
Description:
Small to large tree up to 20 m. It is easily distinguished from related "wattles" (A. dealbata and A. mearnsii) as it only has bi-pinnate leaves in the seedling stage. The simple leaves of larger specimens are in fact swollen and flattened petioles called phyllodes.
Notes: Specimens at Dam 2 in Nyika were originally planted but may well have become naturalized. In Eastern Zimbabwe this species only in more recent decennia has become a more aggressive invader, much harder to eradicate than related wattles. This species therefore certainly has the potential to become problematic in areas such as Nyika even when it does not appear to be so.
Derivation of specific name: melanoxylon: from the Greek: melanos, meaning black, xylon meaning wood, referring to the black wood.
Habitat: At forest margins and in grassland.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:Aug - Sep
Worldwide distribution: Native to Australia.
Malawi distribution: N(other?)
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Thursday 27 September 2018
Literature:

Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 17.

Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Page 145. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 44.

Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture).

Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999). Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare Pages 142 - 143. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Acacia melanoxylon:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Acacia melanoxylon
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Acacia melanoxylon
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acacia melanoxylon
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Acacia melanoxylon

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acacia melanoxylon
African Plant Database: Acacia melanoxylon
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acacia melanoxylon
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acacia melanoxylon
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acacia melanoxylon
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acacia melanoxylon
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acacia melanoxylon
JSTOR Plant Science: Acacia melanoxylon
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acacia melanoxylon
Plants of the World Online: Acacia melanoxylon
Tropicos: Acacia melanoxylon
Wikipedia: Acacia melanoxylon


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Acacia melanoxylon.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=126040, retrieved 19 March 2024

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