Taiwan Acacia
Scientific Name : Acacia confusa Merr.
Common Name : Taiwan Acacia
Chinese Name : 台灣相思, 相思樹, 台灣柳, 相思仔
Family : MIMOSACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
Anecdotes on plants
| Origins |
Taiwan, hence was given the name “Taiwan Acacia”. The species is also distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan Provinces. Countries of Southeast Asia like such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Fiji also has its distribution. |
| Applications |
As a source of timber. Tannins can be extracted from the bark, while aromatic oils can be extracted from the flowers. |
| Ecology |
Due to its rapid growth rate and drought tolerance, Taiwan Acacia was previously chosen as one of the afforestation species in Hong Kong. This species, along with Brisbane Box (Lophostemon confertus (R. Br.) Peter G. Wilson & J. T. Waterh.) and Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.), were called “The Three Treasures for Afforestation” in Hong Kong. However, the lifespan of Taiwan Acacia is comparatively short in Hong Kong, around 50 to 60 years. The Taiwan Acacia planted on the slops in urban area for slope reinforcement are progressively becoming senescent which produce potential risks to the public safety. In the “Enhancement Programme of Vegetated Slopes” of Highways Department, the Taiwan Acacia are orderly removed in pilot schemes, followed by the replacement of native plants. |
| Toxicity |
Its seeds are slightly poisonous. Ingestion should be avoided. |
Traits for identification
| Growing habit |
Evergreen tree. |
| Height |
To 15 m. |
| Leaves |
The green leaf-like organ we see actually is the modified stem called “phyllodes”. The phyllode itself is leathery in texture, with a straight shape or slightly curved as a falcate. The actual leaf was reduced into a tiny black spot which is difficult to see with the naked eye. The function of photosynthesis is instead performed by the phyllodes. |
| Flowers |
Golden yellow, head inflorescence globose, with slight fragrance. Looks like numerous tiny golden pompoms hanging on the branches when looking from a distance. |
| Fruits |
Pods blackish brown, lustrous, lorate-oblong, flatten, dehiscing when mature, with 2 to 8 seeds inside. |
| Seeds |
Elliptic, flatten. |
| Flowering period |
March to October in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period |
August to December in Hong Kong. |
Remarks
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=7299
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Acacia confusa Merrill
― Plants of the World Online : Acacia confusa Merr.
Reference
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
- Chan, S. K. (2004). 160 Species of Poisonous Plants of Macao. In W. L. Li. & Z. Feng (Eds.), Research of medicinal plants and modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 254-266. ISBN: 9787810897372.
- eFloras. (2008). Acacia confusa Merrill. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 18th March 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200011848
- Highways Department. (2019). SUCCEED•SUSTAIN SLOPESCAPE: Enhancement Programme of Vegetated Slopes. Retrieved 9th December 2020, from: https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/district_and_maintenance/landscape/enhancement/doc/booklet_e.pdf
- Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Acacia confusa Merr. 台灣相思. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 18th March 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/7299/7299_S_E.pdf
- news.gov.hk. (7th April, 2012). Tree walk guide app launches. Environment. news.gov.hk. Retrieved 19th March 2020, from: http://www.news.gov.hk/tc/categories/environment/html/2012/04/20120403_223440.lin.shtml
- Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium. (2020). Acacia confusa Merr. 台灣相思. Pro-Factsheet. Taxonomical Archive System. Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation Native Plant Resources and Database in Hong Kong. Retrieved 18th March 2020, from: https://syhuherbarium.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/collections/factsheet-pro/acacia-confusa/
- 中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2010）。《深圳植物誌》（第2卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-5884-0。
- 中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈台灣相思Acacia confusa Merr.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年3月18日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Acacia%20confusa?t=z
- 中國科學院華南植物園。（2003）。《廣東植物誌》（第5卷）。廣州 : 廣東科技出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5359-3322-X。
- 陳冀勝、鄭碩。（1987）。《中國有毒植物》。北京 : 科學出版社。
- 黎存志、葉彥、葉國樑、魏遠娥、廖家業。（2008）。《香港野外樹木圖鑑》。香港 : 漁農自然護理署。國際標準書號 : 978-988-99377-3-7。
- 薛克娜、李鎮魁、陸耀東。（2005）。〈廣東佛山市有毒植物資源調查〉。《生態科學》，24（3），212-217。
- 鐘象景、張粵、鄧聲文。（2016）。〈廣東象頭山國家級自然保護區有毒植物資源及其開發利用〉。《惠州學院學報》，36（6），50-57。
Tree Labels with QR Codes
