Summary ⁵

Non-native, Naturalized; Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lāna, Maui, Kaho'olawe, Hawai'i
Good source of pollen-24.2% average crude protein
Extrafloral nectary
Pollinated by honeybees

A fast-growing tree, native to easter Australia and Tasmania. It has been planted in tropical African countries, South Africa, parts of Asia, and the Americas, and is also cultivated in southern Europe. The bark contains 30-45% tannin, the most widely used tanning material in the world. The tree also provides useful timber. The minute fragrant bisexual flowers are self-fertile but cross-pollination occurs; bees are the main pollinators. (Crane, E., & Walker, P. (1984). Pollination Directory for World Crops)

Flowering time 8-12 Southeastern Austalia. Important species in commercial foresty. Invasive in larger parts of S. Africa, particularly along watercourses. Large fragrant sprays of pale yellow puffballs that vary much in their attractiveness to bees. Pellet colors cream, brownish-yellow, khaki and grey, the darker colors probably due to air pollution. Pollen crude protein 24.2%. Leaves are occasionally heavily worked by bees for extrafloral nectar. (Johannsmeier, M. F. (2016). Beeplants of South Africa: Sources of Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew and Propolis for Honeybees)

Sources and Credits

1. (c) enbodenumer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/enbodenumer/3410035260/
2. (c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/starr-environmental/24824080716/
3. (c) 2015 Ron Vanderhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=663390&one=T
4. (c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_050816-3641_Acacia_mearnsii.jpg
5. (c) Megan W., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• African Plants - a photo guide
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Calflora
• CalPhotos
• Catalogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia
• eFloras.org
• Flora Digital de Portugal
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• World Flora Online

iNat Map