Acacia mellifera

Acacia mellifera
	File:600px-Acacia mellifera 3D-Modell.jpg;
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae;
Division:	Magnoliophyta;
Class:	Magnoliopsida;
Order:	Fabales;
Family:	Fabaceae;
Subfamily:	Mimosoideae;
Genus:	Acacia;
Species:	A. mellifera;
Binomial name
	Acacia mellifera;
	Range of Acacia mellifera; Range of Acacia mellifera
Synonyms
	Mimosa mellifera M. Vahl;

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Acacia mellifera is a perennial tree which is not listed as being threatened.^[1]

The name mellifera refers to its sweet-smelling blossoms and honey. Its lumber turns pitch black when oiled. Common names of the tree include Blackthorn and Swaarthaak (Afrikaans).

Distribution

Acacia mellifera is found in the dry areas of Africa, the Arabian Penninsula, Australia, India and in the Indian Ocean area.^[1]

Characteristics

Acacia mellifera can manifest itself either as a multi-trunked bush up to seven meters high with more or less a funnel-shaped crown, but also as a small single-trunked tree, which can reach a height of up to nine meters. This kind of acacia can reproduce by seed formation and by stick excursion to form an impenetrable thicket of several hundred individuals.

Uses

In the dry regions of Africa, Acacia mellifera is used, among other things, as fencing, feed and building material for huts. In some places, the blossom nectar is used as food, but primarily the milky sap is used to induce vomiting and the boiled bark is used to treat belly pain, pneumonia and malaria.

Animal Uses

This tree is an important food resource for both cattle and wild animals especially in dry areas of Africa as the leaves and young branches are very nutritious containing a high percentage of protein. The flowers are often eaten by kudu. Common browsers of the tree include black rhino, giraffe and the eland.

Subspecies

References

General references

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ILDIS LegumeWeb
↑ ILDIS

External links

Acacia mellifera Photos (Google Images)

de:Schwarzdorn-Akazie

Template:Acacia-stub Template:Africa-stub Template:Australia-stub Template:India-stub

[ILDIS-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ILDIS LegumeWeb

[2] ILDIS

[1]

[2]