Acacia maitlandii

Taxobox
name = "Acacia maitlandii"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
genus = "Acacia"
species = "A. maitlandii"
binomial = "Acacia maitlandii"
binomial_authority = F. Muell.
synonyms = "Acacia maitlandi" F.Muell. ex Benth.
"Acacia patens" F.Muell.
"Racosperma maitlandii" (F.Muell.) PedleyAPNI|name="Acacia maitlandii" F.Muell. ( as `Maitlandi' )|id=12041]

"Acacia maitlandii", also known as Maitland's Wattle, is a perennial tree native to Australia. It has an open and spindly habit, with a height between 0.7 - 3.0 metres. Flowers are yellow and occur sometime between May and October. The favoured soil type is red sand, or stony ground, the habitat is sandy or stony plains, and on hills.FloraBase|name="Acacia maitlandii" F.Muell.|id=3434]

The species was first described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1863. [Mueller, F.J.H. von (1863), Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 3(22): 46 Type: "In planitiebus lapidosis ad montes Hammersly Range legit Maitl. Brown sub expeditione Francisci Gregorii."(APNI)] The plant is named for an early European explorer of Australia's Northwest, Maitland Brown, who collect the type specimen.cite web | url = http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Acacia~maitlandii | title = "Acacia maitlandii" F.Muell. | accessdate = | author = P.G. Kodela | authorlink = | coauthors = | date = 2002 | work = New South Wales flora online | publisher = National Herbarium of New South Wales | quote = ...named after Maitland Brown ]

"Acacia maitlandii" is found in northern regions of all mainland states of Australia, except Victoria, and is not considered to be threatened with extinction.

Uses

The species is used to make boomerangs and spearthrowers, the gum produced is edible. The tree is called Garrga in the languages of the Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma people.Cite book|title=Wanggalili; Yinjibarndi and Ngarluma Plants|author=Burndud|publisher= Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation |date=1990|page = 17] The seeds have been identified, analysed, and monitored, as a 'wild harvested Australian indigenous food', by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. The product is found to very high in fats, over half by weight. [Cite web|title=Acacia Maitlandii, Seed | url= http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/monitoringandsurveillance/nuttab2006/onlineversionintroduction/onlineversion.cfm?&action=getFood&foodID=15A10016 |work =NUTTAB 2006 Online Version | publisher = Food Standards Australia New Zealand|date=2007-04-26 |quote = Food ID: 15A10116]

References

External links