| Acacia maidenii | |
|---|---|
| Acacia maidenii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Acacia |
| Species: | A. maidenii |
| Binomial name | |
| Acacia maidenii F. Muell.[1] |
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| Native range of Acacia maidenii | |
| Synonyms | |
Acacia maidenii, also known as Maiden's Wattle, is a tree native to Australia (New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria). It has been introduced into India (Tamil Nadu) and Argentina, and it grows on plantations in South Africa.[2] It prefers full sun to partial shade and it is often found on the edge of the rainforest.[3] It grows up to 15 m in height by 10-15 m in width.[4] The phyllodes are dark green, alternate along the stem and reach 20 cm in length and 1 to 3 cm in width.[5] It is very fast growing, reaching 1.5 m tall in as little as 5 months.[6] Its flowers have pale yellow spikes up to 6 cm long[5] that often occur in clusters of 2 to 3.[4] The fruit is hairy, about 15 cm long and narrow,[4] often becoming coiled.[3] In Australia it is listed as being an endangered species.[7] The tree has a lifespan of more than 30 years.[8] It grows approximately 1 m per year.[9] It is frost tolerant down to -7 °C[10] (about 19 °F), but it is not drought tolerant, so irrigation may be necessary in some growing areas.[6] In its natural range, it tends to grow in places with an average maximum temperature of about 25°C, but it also exists in a range of 22-32°C avg. max. temp.[11] It tends to grow primarily in areas near the coast averaging 1200-1600 mm/year of rainfall, but overall it is found to some extent in an areas ranging 600-2000 mm/year of rainfall.[11]
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It makes an attractive ornamental tree along streets and in parks.[9] It is very good for reforestation in suitable areas. The exudates from the trunk (like gum or pitch) have been used in the past for food by indigenous Australians.[12]
Fitzgerald and Siournis reported in the Australian Journal of Chemistry (1965, volume 18, pp. 433-4) that a sample of the bark contained 0.36% of the hallucinogen DMT as well as 0.24% of N-methyltryptamine. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that the concentration of DMT and other tryptamines in A. maidenii is very variable and may be zero in many strains. When smoked, the bark gives a mild hallucinogenic effect. It is also a common admixture ingredient to Australian ayahuasca brews.
Teracacidin, a flavan-3,4-diol, can be isolated from A. maidenii heartwood.[13]
USDA Zone 9 is recommended.[4] Acacia maidenii does well in all types of soil, except those that are waterlogged for lengthy periods of time.[9] The tree's seeds number about 65 seeds/g.[4] Acacia maidenii can be propagated from seed, but, in order to increase the germination rate, the seed should be treated first. It can be soaked in hot water or the seed can be nicked or otherwise mechanically scarified, so that water will penetrate the seed's hard coating and induce germination.
Germination is highest at temperatures between 21-27°C.[14]