Acacia saligna (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Acacia saligna (Racosperma saligna) (Fabaceae, Australia)

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  leaves, flowers, fruits

• English: Port Jackson willow, Weeping wattle, Willow wattle
• Amargna: Akacha saligna
• Oromugna: Akacha saligna

A thornless exotic tree or shrub introduced from south-west Australia. The species can grow in Dry and Moist Kolla and Dry Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones. It grows in many soils but does best in light to medium loams and well-drained soils. Drought hardy.

Firewood, posts, shade, ornamental,, nitrogen fixation, soil conservation, soil improvement, windbreak, gum (food preservative), live fence.

A shrub or leafy tree to 10 m.

• BARK: Smooth, grey-brown.
• LEAVES: Long and thin to 22 cm (feathery acacia-type leaves in seedlings in mature tree flattened leaf stalks become leaves looking similar to eucalyptus leaves).
• FLOWERS: Bright yellow, in small round heads.
• FRUIT: Thin pods, straight or curved to 15 cm, narrowed between seeds.

Seedlings. Seed Germination rate: 55–90%. 14,000– 80,000 seed per kg.

• Treatment: Immerse in boiling water, allow to cool and soak for 24 hours.
• Storage: Can be kept for one or two years in a cool dry place.

Coppicing, pollarding. Make sure that it is not planted in shallow soil. Orient planting line along wind direction to minimise wind-throw.

The tree grows rapidly. Since it is hardy and regenerates easily, there is some danger that it could become a weed if grown on farmland. It has been used successfully to reclaim eroded land and prevent soil erosion on the sides of steep gullies. Livestock eat the leaves when there is little other feed available.