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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Acacia''
| image = Acacia melanoxylon branch.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Acacia melanoxylon]]'' foliage and flowers
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Mimosoideae]]
| tribus = Acacieae
| genus = '''''Acacia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Gerrit Smith Miller|Miller]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 1,300; see [[List of Acacia species]]
}}
[[Image:Acacia-tree.jpg|thumb|right|245px|Acacia tree in the [[Serengeti]], [[Tanzania]]]]
'''''Acacia''''' is a genus of [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s of [[Gondwana|Gondwanian]] origin belonging to the subfamily [[Mimosoideae]] of the family [[Fabaceae]], first described from Africa by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in [[1773]].
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.
The genus ''Acacia'' however is apparently not [[monophyletic]]. This discovery has led to the breaking up of ''Acacia'' into five new genera as discussed in [[list of Acacia species]].
==General discussion==
The northernmost species in the genus is ''Acacia greggii'' ([[Catclaw Acacia]]), reaching 37°10' N in southern [[Utah]] in the [[United States]]; the southernmost are ''Acacia dealbata'' ([[Silver Wattle]]), ''Acacia longifolia'' ([[Coast Wattle]] or Sydney Golden Wattle), ''Acacia mearnsii'' ([[Black Wattle]]), and ''Acacia melanoxylon'' ([[Acacia melanoxylon|Blackwood]]), reaching 43°30' S in [[Tasmania]], Australia, while ''[[Acacia caven]]'' ([[Mimosa caven|Espinillo Negro]]) reaches nearly as far south in northeastern [[Chubut Province]] of [[Argentina]]. Australian species are usually called '''wattles''', while African and American species tend to be known as '''acacias'''.
[[Image:Koeh-003.jpg|thumb|left|''Acacia catechu'']]
The leaves of acacias are compound pinnate in general. In some species, however, more especially in the Australian and Pacific islands species, the leaflets are suppressed, and the leaf-stalks ('''[[Petiole (botany)|petiole]]s''') become vertically flattened, and serve the purpose of leaves; these are known as '''[[phyllode]]s'''. The vertical orientation of the phyllodes protects them from intense sunlight, as with their edges towards the sky and earth they do not intercept light so fully as horizontally placed leaves. A few species (such as ''[[Acacia glaucoptera]]'') lack leaves or phyllodes altogether, but possess instead '''[[cladode]]s''', modified leaf-like photosynthetic stems functioning as leaves.
The small [[flower]]s have five very small petals, almost hidden by the long stamens, and are arranged in dense globular or cylindrical clusters; they are yellow or cream-colored in most species, whitish in some, even purple (as in ''[[Acacia purpureapetala]]'') or red (in the recently grown cultivar ''[[Acacia leprosa]] 'Scarlet Blaze''').
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-stipules. ''Acacia armata'' is the [[Kangaroo-thorn]] of Australia, ''Acacia giraffae'', the [[Acacia erioloba|Camelthorn]] of Africa. In the Central American ''[[Acacia sphaerocephala]]'', ''[[Acacia spadicigera]]'', ''[[Acacia cornigera]]'', and ''[[Acacia collinsii]]'' (collectively known as the bullthorn acacias), the large thorn-like stipules are hollow and afford shelter for [[ant]]s, which feed on a secretion of sap on the leaf-stalk and small, lipid-rich food-bodies at the tips of the leaflets called Beltian bodies; in return they usually protect the plant against [[herbivores]]. Some species of ants will also trim competing p
lants around the acacia, while other ant species will do nothing to benefit their host.
In common parlance the term "acacia" is occasionally misapplied to species of the genus ''Robinia'', which also belongs in the pea family. ''[[Robinia pseudoacacia]]'', an American species locally known as Black locust, is sometimes called "false acacia" in cultivation in Britain.
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]] moths also feed on ''Acacia'': ''Bucculatrix agilis'' feeds exclusively on ''Acacia horrida'', ''Bucculatrix flexuosa'' feeds exclusively on ''Acacia nilotica''.
== Uses ==
===Industrial and medicinal uses===
Various species of acacia yield gum. True [[gum arabic]] is the product of ''[[Acacia Senegal]]'', abundant in dry tropical west Africa from [[Senegal]] to northern [[Nigeria]].
''[[Acacia arabica]]'' is the gum-arabic tree of India, but yields a gum inferior to the true gum-arabic. The bark of ''Acacia arabica'', under the name of '''babul''' or '''babool''', is used in Scinde for tanning. In [[Ayurvedic medicine]], babul is considered a remedy that is helpful for treating premature ejaculation.
The bark of various Australian species, known as wattles, is very rich in tannin and forms an important article of export; important species include ''Acacia pycnantha'' (Golden Wattle), ''Acacia decurrens'' (Tan Wattle), ''Acacia dealbata'' (Silver Wattle) and ''Acacia mearnsii'' (Black Wattle). Black Wattle is grown in plantations in South Africa. Most Australian acacia species introduced to South Africa, have become an enormous problem due to their naturally aggressive propagation. The pods of ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'' (under the name of neb-neb), and of other African species are also rich in tannin and used by tanners.
[[Image:Australian_Golden_Wattle_Blossums.jpg|thumb|Australian Golden Wattle flowers]]
Most acacia species are used for valuable timber; such are ''Acacia melanoxylon'' (Blackwood) from [[Australia]], which attains a great size; its wood is used for furniture, and takes a high polish; and ''Acacia homalophylla'' ([[Myall Wood]], also Australian), which yields a fragrant timber, used for ornamental purposes. ''[[Acacia formosa]]'' supplies the valuable [[Cuba]]n timber called sabicu. ''[[Acacia seyal]]'' is thought to be the shittah tree of the [[Bible]], which supplied shittim-wood. This was used in the construction of the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. ''[[Acacia heterophylla]]'' from [[Réunion]] island, and ''[[Koa|Acacia koa]]'' from the [[Hawaiian Islands]] are excellent timber trees.
''Acacia farnesiana'' is used in the perfume industry due to its strong fragrance.
An astringent medicine, called [[catechu]] or cutch, is procured from several species, but more especially from ''[[Acacia catechu]]'', by boiling down the wood and evaporating the solution so as to get an extract.
===Ornamental uses===
[[Image:Acaciaauriculiformis1web.jpg|thumb|right|Earpod Wattle (''Acacia auriculiformis'')]]
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]]''.
===Culinary uses===
[[Acacia seed]]s are often used for food and a variety of other products. The seeds of ''[[Acacia niopo]]'', for instance, are roasted and used as [[snuff]] in [[South America]].
In [[Myanmar|Burma]], [[Laos]] and [[Thailand]], the feathery shoots of ''[[Acacia pennata]]'' (common name ''cha-om'', ชะอม) are used in soups, curries, omelette
s, and stir-fries.
Honey made from the acacia flower is considered a delicacy, appreaciated for its mild flowery taste, soft running texture and glass like appearance. Acacia nectar can be an abundant enough to classify the honey as [[monofloral honey]].
===Pharmacological uses===
Many Acacia species contain some psychoactive alkaloids of which [[Dimethyltryptamine|DMT]] and [[N-methyltryptamine|NMT]] are the most prominent and useful. The leaves, stems and/or roots can be made into a brew together with some [[Monoamine oxidase inhibitor|MAOI]]-containing plant to obtain an effect when taken orally. This could be seen as a kind of ''[[Ayahuasca]]''. Maybe in relation to this effect, [[Egyptian mythology]] has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the [[tree of life]] (cf. article on the [[Legend of Osiris and Isis]]). As a spiritual icon it is also one of the most powerful symbols in [[freemasonry]], representing the eternal soul and purity of the soul.
Alkaloids in different species, from ''[[TiHKAL]]'' (by [[Alexander Shulgin]]):
(There remains some question over whether any or all specimens of the following species would contain the alkaloids reported in TIHKAL, but it's a starting point. K Trouts books and notes on Acacia and tryptamines contain more recent information)
{|
|-----
| ''[[Cootamundra wattle|Acacia baileyana]]''
| 0.02% tryptamine and β-carbolines, in the leaf
|-----
| ''[[Acacia maidenii]]'' || DMT and NMT, in the stem bark
|-----
| ''A. albida'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. confusa''
| DMT and NMT, in the leaf, stem and bark
|-----
| ''[[Acacia cultriformis]]'' || tryptamine, in the leaf and stem
|-----
| ''A. laeta'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACME8 A. mellifera]''
| DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''[[Acacia melanoxylon]]'' || DMT, in the bark and leaf
|-----
| ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. phlebophylla'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. podalyriaefolia'' || tryptamine, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. Senegal'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. seyal'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. sieberiana'' || DMT, in the leaf)
|-----
| ''A. simplicifolia''
| DMT and NMT, in the leaf, stem and trunk bark
|-----
| ''A. vestita'' || tryptamine, in the leaf and stem
|}
Acacia is also a very good and healthy soluble fiber, often used by [[IBS]] sufferers {{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
== Species ==
There are over 1,300 species of Acacia. See [[List of Acacia species]] for a complete listing.
== External links ==
{{wikispecies|Acacia}}
{{Commons|Acacia}}
* [http://www.worldwidewattle.com/ World Wide Wattle]
* [http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plaug99.htm Wayne's Word] on "The Unforgettable Acacias"
* [http://mulga.yage.net/acacia/ The genus Acacia and Entheogenic Tryptamines, with reference to Australian and related species, by mulga]
[[Category:Acacia| ]]
[[Category:Pantropical flora]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Flora of Argentina]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Acacia''
| image = Acacia melanoxylon branch.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Acacia melanoxylon]]'' foliage and flowers
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Mimosoideae]]
| tribus = Acacieae
| genus = '''''Acacia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Gerrit Smith Miller|Miller]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 1,300; see [[List of Acacia species]]
}}
[[Image:Acacia-tree.jpg|thumb|right|245px|Acacia tree in the [[Serengeti]], [[Tanzania]]]]
'''''Acacia''''' is a genus of [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s of [[Gondwana|Gondwanian]] origin belonging to the subfamily [[Mimosoideae]] of the family [[Fabaceae]], first described from Africa by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in [[1773]].
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.
The genus ''Acacia'' however is apparently not [[monophyletic]]. This discovery has led to the breaking up of ''Acacia'' into five new genera as discussed in [[list of Acacia species]].
==General discussion==
The northernmost species in the genus is ''Acacia greggii'' ([[Catclaw Acacia]]), reaching 37°10' N in southern [[Utah]] in the [[United States]]; the southernmost are ''Acacia dealbata'' ([[Silver Wattle]]), ''Acacia longifolia'' ([[Coast Wattle]] or Sydney Golden Wattle), ''Acacia mearnsii'' ([[Black Wattle]]), and ''Acacia melanoxylon'' ([[Acacia melanoxylon|Blackwood]]), reaching 43°30' S in [[Tasmania]], Australia, while ''[[Acacia caven]]'' ([[Mimosa caven|Espinillo Negro]]) reaches nearly as far south in northeastern [[Chubut Province]] of [[Argentina]]. Australian species are usually called '''wattles''', while African and American species tend to be known as '''acacias'''.
[[Image:Koeh-003.jpg|thumb|left|''Acacia catechu'']]
The leaves of acacias are compound pinnate in general. In some species, however, more especially in the Australian and Pacific islands species, the leaflets are suppressed, and the leaf-stalks ('''[[Petiole (botany)|petiole]]s''') become vertically flattened, and serve the purpose of leaves; these are known as '''[[phyllode]]s'''. The vertical orientation of the phyllodes protects them from intense sunlight, as with their edges towards the sky and earth they do not intercept light so fully as horizontally placed leaves. A few species (such as ''[[Acacia glaucoptera]]'') lack leaves or phyllodes altogether, but possess instead '''[[cladode]]s''', modified leaf-like photosynthetic stems functioning as leaves.
The small [[flower]]s have five very small petals, almost hidden by the long stamens, and are arranged in dense globular or cylindrical clusters; they are yellow or cream-colored in most species, whitish in some, even purple (as in ''[[Acacia purpureapetala]]'') or red (in the recently grown cultivar ''[[Acacia leprosa]] 'Scarlet Blaze''').
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-stipules. ''Acacia armata'' is the [[Kangaroo-thorn]] of Australia, ''Acacia giraffae'', the [[Acacia erioloba|Camelthorn]] of Africa. In the Central American ''[[Acacia sphaerocephala]]'', ''[[Acacia spadicigera]]'', ''[[Acacia cornigera]]'', and ''[[Acacia collinsii]]'' (collectively known as the bullthorn acacias), the large thorn-like stipules are hollow and afford shelter for [[ant]]s, which feed on a secretion of sap on the leaf-stalk and small, lipid-rich food-bodies at the tips of the leaflets called Beltian bodies; in return they usually protect the plant against [[herbivores]]. Some species of ants will also trim competing p
lants around the acacia, while other ant species will do nothing to benefit their host.
In common parlance the term "acacia" is occasionally misapplied to species of the genus ''Robinia'', which also belongs in the pea family. ''[[Robinia pseudoacacia]]'', an American species locally known as Black locust, is sometimes called "false acacia" in cultivation in Britain.
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]] moths also feed on ''Acacia'': ''Bucculatrix agilis'' feeds exclusively on ''Acacia horrida'', ''Bucculatrix flexuosa'' feeds exclusively on ''Acacia nilotica''.
== Uses ==
===Industrial and medicinal uses===
Various species of acacia yield gum. True [[gum arabic]] is the product of ''[[Acacia Senegal]]'', abundant in dry tropical west Africa from [[Senegal]] to northern [[Nigeria]].
''[[Acacia arabica]]'' is the gum-arabic tree of India, but yields a gum inferior to the true gum-arabic. The bark of ''Acacia arabica'', under the name of '''babul''' or '''babool''', is used in Scinde for tanning. In [[Ayurvedic medicine]], babul is considered a remedy that is helpful for treating premature ejaculation.
The bark of various Australian species, known as wattles, is very rich in tannin and forms an important article of export; important species include ''Acacia pycnantha'' (Golden Wattle), ''Acacia decurrens'' (Tan Wattle), ''Acacia dealbata'' (Silver Wattle) and ''Acacia mearnsii'' (Black Wattle). Black Wattle is grown in plantations in South Africa. Most Australian acacia species introduced to South Africa, have become an enormous problem due to their naturally aggressive propagation. The pods of ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'' (under the name of neb-neb), and of other African species are also rich in tannin and used by tanners.
[[Image:Australian_Golden_Wattle_Blossums.jpg|thumb|Australian Golden Wattle flowers]]
Most acacia species are used for valuable timber; such are ''Acacia melanoxylon'' (Blackwood) from [[Australia]], which attains a great size; its wood is used for furniture, and takes a high polish; and ''Acacia homalophylla'' ([[Myall Wood]], also Australian), which yields a fragrant timber, used for ornamental purposes. ''[[Acacia formosa]]'' supplies the valuable [[Cuba]]n timber called sabicu. ''[[Acacia seyal]]'' is thought to be the shittah tree of the [[Bible]], which supplied shittim-wood. This was used in the construction of the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. ''[[Acacia heterophylla]]'' from [[Réunion]] island, and ''[[Koa|Acacia koa]]'' from the [[Hawaiian Islands]] are excellent timber trees.
''Acacia farnesiana'' is used in the perfume industry due to its strong fragrance.
An astringent medicine, called [[catechu]] or cutch, is procured from several species, but more especially from ''[[Acacia catechu]]'', by boiling down the wood and evaporating the solution so as to get an extract.
===Ornamental uses===
[[Image:Acaciaauriculiformis1web.jpg|thumb|right|Earpod Wattle (''Acacia auriculiformis'')]]
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]]''.
===Culinary uses===
[[Acacia seed]]s are often used for food and a variety of other products. The seeds of ''[[Acacia niopo]]'', for instance, are roasted and used as [[snuff]] in [[South America]].
In [[Myanmar|Burma]], [[Laos]] and [[Thailand]], the feathery shoots of ''[[Acacia pennata]]'' (common name ''cha-om'', ชะอม) are used in soups, curries, omelette
s, and stir-fries.
Honey made from the acacia flower is considered a delicacy, appreaciated for its mild flowery taste, soft running texture and glass like appearance. Acacia nectar can be an abundant enough to classify the honey as [[monofloral honey]].
===Pharmacological uses===
Many Acacia species contain some psychoactive alkaloids of which [[Dimethyltryptamine|DMT]] and [[N-methyltryptamine|NMT]] are the most prominent and useful. The leaves, stems and/or roots can be made into a brew together with some [[Monoamine oxidase inhibitor|MAOI]]-containing plant to obtain an effect when taken orally. This could be seen as a kind of ''[[Ayahuasca]]''. Maybe in relation to this effect, [[Egyptian mythology]] has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the [[tree of life]] (cf. article on the [[Legend of Osiris and Isis]]). As a spiritual icon it is also one of the most powerful symbols in [[freemasonry]], representing the eternal soul and purity of the soul.
Alkaloids in different species, from ''[[TiHKAL]]'' (by [[Alexander Shulgin]]):
(There remains some question over whether any or all specimens of the following species would contain the alkaloids reported in TIHKAL, but it's a starting point. K Trouts books and notes on Acacia and tryptamines contain more recent information)
{|
|-----
| ''[[Cootamundra wattle|Acacia baileyana]]''
| 0.02% tryptamine and β-carbolines, in the leaf
|-----
| ''[[Acacia maidenii]]'' || DMT and NMT, in the stem bark
|-----
| ''A. albida'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. confusa''
| DMT and NMT, in the leaf, stem and bark
|-----
| ''[[Acacia cultriformis]]'' || tryptamine, in the leaf and stem
|-----
| ''A. laeta'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACME8 A. mellifera]''
| DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''[[Acacia melanoxylon]]'' || DMT, in the bark and leaf
|-----
| ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. phlebophylla'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. podalyriaefolia'' || tryptamine, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. Senegal'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. seyal'' || DMT, in the leaf
|-----
| ''A. sieberiana'' || DMT, in the leaf)
|-----
| ''A. simplicifolia''
| DMT and NMT, in the leaf, stem and trunk bark
|-----
| ''A. vestita'' || tryptamine, in the leaf and stem
|}
Acacia is also a very good and healthy soluble fiber, often used by [[IBS]] sufferers {{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
== Species ==
There are over 1,300 species of Acacia. See [[List of Acacia species]] for a complete listing.
== External links ==
{{wikispecies|Acacia}}
{{Commons|Acacia}}
* [http://www.worldwidewattle.com/ World Wide Wattle]
* [http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plaug99.htm Wayne's Word] on "The Unforgettable Acacias"
* [http://mulga.yage.net/acacia/ The genus Acacia and Entheogenic Tryptamines, with reference to Australian and related species, by mulga]
[[Category:Acacia| ]]
[[Category:Pantropical flora]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Flora of Argentina]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
