Springtime in Tasmania Pt. 4

SPRINGTIME IN TASMANIA - PART 4

ACACIA MELANOXYLON Mimosaceae
Blackwood

Large erect tree to 30 metres with dense crown and dark furrowed bark on trunk. Phyllodes are dull grey-green, elliptical, straight or curved 4-10 cm long,, 10-25 mm wide, with 3-5 prominent longitudinal veins; glands near base. Dense pale yellow heads, globular, of 30-50 flowers on stout stalks 5-10 mm long, solitary or in short racemes of 2-8 heads. Pods flattish, curved or coiled 4-12 cm long, 6-10 mm broad, margins thickened, slightly constricted between seeds. Suckers readily from damaged roots; young leaves bipinnate. A valuable commercial timber which is used extensively for furniture making, panelling and for craftwork. Note: In recent times it's been discovered that the "powder" formed when
working this wood, can be carcinogenic. Therefore special care, such as using a mask, needs to be taken at that time. Once the wood is made up and sealed, it is perfectly safe.
Flowering August - October. Widespread, in wet gullies and forests.
Tas; Vic; NSW; Qld, SA
Information courtesy of Launceston Field Naturalists

Mature seed pods - A. melanoxylon
Acacia melanoxylon seed

ACACIA DEALBATA Mimosaceae
Silver Wattle

Tree to 30 m tall with grey mottled smooth bark and felty or hoary branchlets, flowering when very small. Leaves bipinnate, minutely hairy, blue-green, with 10-20 pairs of pinnae, raised glands at base of each pair; smallest leaflets in 30-40 pairs, linear, crowded 4-6cm long. Globular heads each of 25-30 flowers, lemon or bright yellow on hairy stalks 5-6mm long, in long racemes or panicles. Pods light purplish-brown, oblong, smooth, 5-8cm long, 8-10 mm broad, in good seasons forming conspicuous masses. Flowering
July-August.Widespread from coast to mountains, largest in moist valleys and colonising after fires or other disturbances in eucalypt forests.
Tas, Vic, NSW introduced into SA
Information courtesy of Launceston Field Naturalists

ACACIA VERTICILLATA Mimosaceae
Prickly Moses

A wattle with stalked ovoid heads, widespread especially in damp areas, gullies and along creeks. Usually a straggling bush up to 3 m but a small tree in favourable conditions. The
arrangement of the spiky phyllodes (apparent leaves) in rings gives the name verticillata.
These vary in width from 1-4 mm in different forms. The dark green phyllodes and golden flowers make an attractive display along river banks in early Spring.
Flowering September to November. Widespread in damp areas.
Tas; Vic; NSW; SA

ACACIA LEPROSA var. GRAVEOLENS Mimosaceae Varnish Wattle
(previously A. verniciflua)

Attractive, profusely flowering shrubby tree to about 5 m. favouring damp habitats and clearings. The phyllodes are light green, narrow and lance-shaped with two prominent veins, shiny and often sticky. Yellow flowers in dense globular heads on short stalks, 2 or 3 per leaf axil. Pods elongated, leathery, constricted between seeds. Flowering early Spring. Propagation from scarified seed.
Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld

ACACIA MUCRONATA var MUCRONATA Mimosaceae

Found only in Tasmania. Variable shrub in height and phyllode form.

Phyllodes may be narrow to lanceolate up to 20 cm.

Profuse creamy-yellow flowers in Spring.

Propagation from scarified seed.

Very hardy.

PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7