Acacia mellifera

Taxobox
name = "Acacia mellifera"

---

image_width = 250px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Mimosoideae
genus = "Acacia"
species = "A. mellifera"
binomial = "Acacia mellifera"
binomial authority = (M. Vahl) Bentham (1842)
range_

range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Range of "Acacia mellifera"
synonyms =
* "Mimosa mellifera" M. Vahl [http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?version~10.01&LegumeWeb&tno~315&genus~Acacia&species~mellifera ILDIS LegumeWeb] ]

"Acacia mellifera" is a perennial tree which is not listed as being threatened.What goes here?]

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 Peninsula, Australia, India and in the Indian Ocean area.What goes here?]

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

*"Acacia mellifera" (Vahl)Benth. subsp. "detinens" (Burchell)Brenan
*"Acacia mellifera" (Vahl)Benth. subsp. "mellifera" [ [http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/fam/f2.shtml ILDIS] ]

References

General references

* [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwarzdorn-Akazie Wikipedia (German) "Schwarzdorn-Akazie"]
* [http://www.safari-guide.co.uk/trees_acacia_mellifera.php "Acacia mellifera": A Guide to trees (Safari Holiday Guide)]
* [http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc/doc/Gbase/DATA/Pf000122.htm]

Notes

External links

* [http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&gbv=1&q=%22Acacia+mellifera%22&btnG=Search+Images "Acacia mellifera" Photos (Google Images)]