Acacia melanoxylon (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Acacia melanoxylon (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Acacia melanoxylon (Racosperma melanoxylon) (Fabaceae, Southern and western Australia, Tasmania)
habit
habit
leaves, flowers
leaves, fruits
Common names
- English: Australian blackwood
- Amargna: Omedla
Ecology
One of the several Australian Acacia species introduced to Ethiopia. This species has been planted in cooler and wetter upland areas, Moist and Wet Kolla Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones.
Uses
Firewood, charcoal, timber (light construction, plywood, flooring), fence posts, shade, ornamental, windbreak, gum, and tannery.
Description
A tall conical timber tree that grows to 35 m.
- BARK: Dark grey, much fissured.
- LEAVES: Dense grey-green, the very first leaves have feathery leaflets, but mature leaves are flat, leathery leaf stalks, slightly curved, to 10 cm long.
- FLOWERS: Creamy white in small round heads on a branched stalk.
- PODS: Curved, twisted and about 12 cm in length with hanging shiny black seeds surrounded by a soft orange aril.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
About 150,000 seed per kg.
- Treatment: Immerse in boiling water, allow to cool and soak for 24 hours. Germination rate: 55–90%.
- Storage: Can be stored.
Management
Lopping for firewood, otherwise silvicultural management of timber stands.
Remarks
A very fast-growing tree producing hard and valuable timber.
