Acacia aneura - Mulga - 30 seeds
Acacia aneura, commonly known as Mulga, is a slow growing long lived, tree growing to approximately 10m in height and is widespread throughout the dry interior in areas with rainfall of 150mm - 400mm.
In its native habitat, it is an erect or spreading tree or shrub mostly 5 - 10m high with fissured bark and branching about 1m above ground with a trunk 20 - 30cm diameter and dark grey; branchlets.
Phyllodes (leaves) are usually linear to very narrowly elliptical, 4 to 10cm long and 1 to 3 mm wide.
The bright yellow flowers, 4 to 10cm long and 1 to 3mm wide and occur in the leaf axils, these are then followed by seed pods that are straight, flat, 2 to 4cm long and 7 to 15mm wide.
In cultivation with ideal conditions it can take on a more attractive form.
This is a slow-growing Acacia, in favourable conditions young plants will grow at a rate of 1m every 10 years until the tree reaches its maximum height of 10m. Reduced rainfall or drought conditions will slow down this process or bring it to a temporary halt, which means that a mature tree can be more than 100 years old!
To the Indigenous Australians Acacia aneura used to be one of the most important plant food sources. The seeds of the plant were separated from their pods by an elaborate process involving rubbing, threshing, parching and winnowing and the completely pod free seed was then moistened with water and ground to an edible paste.
A sweet exudation, produced by the plant after attack by a sap sucking insect, was either sucked straight from the plant or dissolved in water to make a refreshing sweet drink. This was also eaten by early settlers who referred to it as "bush lollies".
Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory used the healing qualities of Mulga in various different ways. People suffering from colds and flu-like illnesses utilised the healing qualities of young leaflets and twigs which were picked and immediately boiled in water. The brown, aromatic liquid was then used as a wash which could be applied as often as desired during the day. Headaches associated with colds could be eased by heating young leaves and twigs on hot ashes or hot stones until soft and scorching, when they were placed over the aching area.
The plant could also be utilised for postnatal therapy believed to strengthen mother and baby where the leaves of the plant and small pieces of termite mound were layered over hot coals and the mother with her newborn child would lie down on top of a layer of branches and leaflets to sleep while the smoke and vapour passed over their bodies. In some areas, only leaves and twigs were used and no pieces of termite mound.
A white, powdery substance on Mulga leaflets and small branches was utilised as a source of resin for joining tool parts and for repairing cracks or holes in wooden bowls.
The hard wood of Mulga which turns dark red-brown when polished, could be turned into excellent tools such as spear-throwers, spearheads, barbs, boomerangs and digging sticks.
Mulga wood was used extensively by the early European settlers, it was particularly valuable for fencing, the production of charcoal and for building bullock yokes.
The hardwood of the Mulga is ideal in wood turning and when polished it turns a dark reddish brown.
Mulga occurs naturally over a large range, is adaptable to a wide variety of soils and conditions and is also drought resistant.
It is best grown in full sun in a dry climate with low humidity and well drained soil.
Seed germinates readily with the standard Acacia pre-treatment of scarification or immersion in initially boiling water.
30 premium quality seeds shipped on receipt of clear funds.