Acacia salicina

South West Slopes Revegetation Guide

Acacia salicina

CoobaAcacia salicina

Species Information

Synonyms
Common Names Cooba
Family Mimosaceae - Mimosa family.
Name Origin From Latin salicis, referring to pendulous, willow-like habit.

Specimen Data - CSU 1574

Location Wagga Agricultural Centre. NSW
Notes Grown specimen. Zone: Easting: Northing:
Collector Sutherland, J.R. Date 01/01/1989
Determined By Kent, Kylie Date 20/05/2000

South West Slopes Revegetation Guide Information

Regional: Becomes more common west of Olympic Highway.
Australia: Qld, NSW, Vic, SA.
Habitat: Dry sclerophyll forest, shrubland and woodland in semi-arid regions. Mostly creek banks, and flat alluvial plains and floodplains.
Habit: Erect or spreading shrub or tree, 3-10 m high. Brownish, finely fissured bark and deep-green foliage on willow-like drooping branches. Often in dense clumps.
Similar Species:
Site Preference:
Characteristics: Long-lived. Wind-firm. 'Leaves' contain large amounts of tannin.
Flowering: Pale yellow to almost white, usually Feb-Jun.
Seed Collection: Dec-Jan. Good crops every few years.
Propagation: From seed ( 8 viable seeds per gram).
Regeneration: regeneration. Encourage suckering by root ripping or disturbance.
Timber: Close-grained, tough, heavy, dark-brown and attractively marked. Used in furniture joinery and craft, and said to rival Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) timber. Takes a high polish. Used for making bullock yokes and cart shafts in pioneering days.
Shade and Shelter: Excellent low to medium-level cover in windbreaks, due to bushiness and suckering.
Land Protection: Valuable in maintaining riverbank stability and for general erosion control, where its suckering is an advantage. Legume improves soil fertility through 'fixing' nitrogen.
Wildlife: Excellent habitat. Native birds and insects eat seed appendages.
Ornamental: Useful attractive species for gardens and parks, particularly in dry areas. Responds to water during dry periods.
Other: Tannin-rich bark used to poison fish. 'Leaves' reputedly burnt and ash smoked to produce a narcotizing effect. Seeds eaten in some areas. Excellent drought fodder for sheep and cattle.

Note: The following information presented is only a guide, as plant characteristics vary depending on provenance (the plant's locality).

Site/Preferred Habitat : creekbanks/ flats
Rainfall(mm) : 300
Growth Rate : moderate
Tolerates : salt; drought
Resents : frost when young
Uses & Comments : windbreak; fuel; timber; fixes nitrogen; wildlife

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