| Origins | Northern Australia to New Guinea. |
|---|---|
| Meanings of names | As implied in its name, the fruit of the Ear-pod Wattle is in the shape of an ear, as the legume is ligulate and coiled spirally. Its phyllodes are curved and falcate, resembling a human’s ear as well. Hence, the name “Ear-leaved Acacia” is also given. In mainland China, the species is also called the “Big-leaved Acacia (大葉相思)”. However, it is different from the species Acacia mangium Willd. |
| Applications | Timber from the Ear-leaved Acacia can be used to produce of pulp and furniture, and due to its high heating value, it can also be the raw material for firewood and charcoal. With its fast-growing properties and strong adaptability, alongside the nitrogen fixing bacteria inside its root nodules, the species can enrich soil fertility. |
| The relatives of Acacia | In Hong Kong, three species of Acacia can be commonly found, which are the Taiwan Acacia, Big-leaved Acacia and Ear-leaved Acacia that all belong to the genus Acacia. The appearance of the Big-leaved Acacia and Ear-leaved Acacia are more similar, the main differences being that the phyllodes of the Ear-leaved Acacia are narrower than those of the Big-leaved Acacia, and the flowers of the Ear-leaved Acacia are yellow while those of the Big-leaved Acacia are milky white. The shape of the inflorescences for these two species look like plush iron wire, while the inflorescence of the Taiwan Acacia is pompom-like. Have a look when you see them next time. |
