Changes

__NOTOC__{{Plantbox

{{SPlantbox

| name = ''Acacia''

|familia=Fabaceae

| common_names = Acacia, thorntree, wattle

|genus=Acacia

|common_name=Acacia, thorntree, wattle

|lifespan=perennial

|features=evergreen, deciduous

|Temp Metric=°F

|image=Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle.jpg

| lifespan =     <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->

|image_width=240

|image_caption=Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle)

| features =     <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->

| hardiness =     <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->

| image = Acacia melanoxylon.jpg

| image_width = 180px

| image_caption = ''[[Acacia melanoxylon]]'' foliage and flowers

}}

}}

{{edit-desc}}<!--- Type GENERAL genus/plant description below this line, then delete this entire line -->

'''''Acacia''''' ({{pron-en|əˈkeɪʃə}}) is a [[genus]] of [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s belonging to the family [[Fabaceae]].  Acacias are also known as '''thorntrees''', '''[[whistling thorn]]s''' or '''wattles''', including the '''yellow-fever acacia''' and '''umbrella acacias'''.

 

Until 2005, there were thought to be roughly 1300 [[species]] of acacia worldwide, about 960 of them native to [[Australia]], with the remainder spread around the tropical to warm-[[temperate]] regions of both hemispheres, including [[Europe]], [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]], and the [[Americas]]. However, the genus was then divided into five, with the name ''Acacia'' retained for the Australian species, and most of the species outside Australia divided into ''[[Vachellia]]'' and ''[[Senegalia]].''

 

Acacias are also known as '''thorntrees''' or '''wattles''', including the yellow-fever acacia and umbrella acacias.   

Acacias are also known as '''thorntrees''' or '''wattles''', including the yellow-fever acacia and umbrella acacias.   

There are roughly 1300 species of ''Acacia'' worldwide, about 950 of them native to [[Australia]], with the remainder spread around the dry tropical to warm-temperate regions of both hemispheres, including Africa, southern Asia, and the Americas.  A few species are widely grown as ornamentals in [[garden]]s; the most popular perhaps is ''Acacia dealbata'' (Silver Wattle), with its attractive glaucous to silvery leaves and bright yellow flowers; it is erroneously known as "mimosa" in some areas where it is cultivated, through confusion with the related genus ''[[Mimosa]]''.

A few species are widely grown as ornamentals in [[garden]]s; the most popular perhaps is ''Acacia dealbata'' (Silver Wattle), with its attractive glaucous to silvery leaves and bright yellow flowers; it is erroneously known as "mimosa" in some areas where it is cultivated, through confusion with the related genus ''[[Mimosa]]''.

 

 

 

The plants often bear spines, especially those species growing in arid regions. These sometimes represent branches which have become short, hard and pungent, or sometimes leaf-[[stipule]]s. ''[[Acacia armata]]'' is the Kangaroo-thorn of Australia and ''[[Acacia erioloba]]'' is the Camelthorn of Africa.

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===Propagation===

===Propagation===

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Propagation is by seeds sown either under glass or out in the open ground, or by cuttings from half-ripened wood, taken with a heel. Seeds may be prepared for planting in two ways: First, place them in ashes among the dying embers of a fire and allow them to remain until cool. These do not require immediate sowing, but if they are sown they will not perish if rain does not fall very soon afterwards. Second, pour hot water over seed, let cool and soak from twelve to forty-eight hours. Sow without allowing seeds to become dry. Either method softens the hard seed-coats and hastens germination. They will then usually germinate in about seven days to three or four weeks, depending upon the species and the season in which they are sown. Seed may be sown in the propagating-house at any time throughout the year, though early spring is the natural time. For open ground, sow in March or April. After germination, the plants are pricked off into flats or pots and shifted into larger ones as occasion requires. They are thus kept in pots until they are ready to be transplanted to their permanent quarters, since if placed in the open ground at once the tap-roots will grow with too great rapidity and the tree will either have to be balled or transplanted with the greatest care to prevent its receiving a shock, from which it will take at least a year to recover. When buying seedlings from a nursery, therefore, reject all those whose roots have penetrated the pot. While several species (A. pycnantha, A. melanoxylon, A. decurrens var. dealbata, etc.) have been known to resow themselves in California, there is no danger of their becoming a pest (such as A. armata in Australia), since the seedlings are seldom able to live through the dry season without irrigation. Cuttings should be made from the half-ripened wood, of which the best are from the side shoots of the main stem, taken with a heel. No bottom heat is required, or very little, but they should be covered with a light frame and kept moist and cool by shading. They root slowly but freely and should be potted immediately after rooting, but should not be planted in the open soil until they have developed good roots.

Propagation is by seeds sown either under glass or out in the open ground, or by cuttings from half-ripened wood, taken with a heel. Seeds may be prepared for planting in two ways: First, place them in ashes among the dying embers of a fire and allow them to remain until cool. These do not require immediate sowing, but if they are sown they will not perish if rain does not fall very soon afterwards. Second, pour hot water over seed, let cool and soak from twelve to forty-eight hours. Sow without allowing seeds to become dry. Either method softens the hard seed-coats and hastens germination. They will then usually germinate in about seven days to three or four weeks, depending upon the species and the season in which they are sown. Seed may be sown in the propagating-house at any time throughout the year, though early spring is the natural time. For open ground, sow in March or April. After germination, the plants are pricked off into flats or pots and shifted into larger ones as occasion requires. They are thus kept in pots until they are ready to be transplanted to their permanent quarters, since if placed in the open ground at once the tap-roots will grow with too great rapidity and the tree will either have to be balled or transplanted with the greatest care to prevent its receiving a shock, from which it will take at least a year to recover. When buying seedlings from a nursery, therefore, reject all those whose roots have penetrated the pot. While several species (A. pycnantha, A. melanoxylon, A. decurrens var. dealbata, etc.) have been known to resow themselves in California, there is no danger of their becoming a pest (such as A. armata in Australia), since the seedlings are seldom able to live through the dry season without irrigation. Cuttings should be made from the half-ripened wood, of which the best are from the side shoots of the main stem, taken with a heel. No bottom heat is required, or very little, but they should be covered with a light frame and kept moist and cool by shading. They root slowly but freely and should be potted immediately after rooting, but should not be planted in the open soil until they have developed good roots.

===Pests and diseases===

===Pests and diseases===

{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

In Australia, ''Acacia'' species are sometimes used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of [[Hepialidae|hepialid]] [[moth]]s of the [[genus]] ''[[Aenetus]]'' including ''A. ligniveren''. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down. Other [[Lepidoptera]] larvae which have been recorded feeding on ''Acacia'' include [[Brown-tail]], ''[[Endoclita|Endoclita malabaricus]]'' and [[Turnip Moth]]. The leaf-mining larvae of some [[Bucculatricidae|bucculatricid]] [[moth]]s also feed on ''Acacia'': ''[[idae|Bucculatrix agilis]]'' feeds exclusively on ''[[Acacia horrida]]'' and ''[[Bucculatricidae|Bucculatrix flexuosa]]'' feeds exclusively on ''[[Acacia nilotica]]''.

== Species ==

== Species ==

==Gallery==

==Gallery==

<gallery>

<gallery perrow=5>

Image:Koeh-003.jpg|''Acacia catechu''

Image:Koeh-003.jpg|''Acacia catechu''

Image:Acacia pendula-weeping acacia-IMG 1084 oc.jpg|Acacia pendula (weeping acacia)

Image:Acacia pendula-weeping acacia-IMG 1084 oc.jpg|Acacia pendula (weeping acacia)

Image:Acacia_longifolia-IMG_2926_lokrun.jpg|Acacia longifolia

Image:Acacia_longifolia-IMG_2926_lokrun.jpg|Acacia longifolia

Image:Acacia_longifolia-IMG_2927_lokrun.jpg|Acacia longifolia

Image:Acacia_longifolia-IMG_2927_lokrun.jpg|Acacia longifolia

</gallery>

</gallery>

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