Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Photo medicinal plant White acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Useful properties of white acacia
White acacia- a widespread plant known for its medicinal properties and use in folk medicine.
Latin name: Robinia pseudoacacia.
Synonyms: Robinia pseudoacacia, or Robinia pseudoacacia, or Robinia pseudoacacia, or Robinia vulgare.
English name: Black locust.
Ukrainian name: white acacia.
Common names: parasolnik, tooth root, pea tree, heart grass, caragana.
Family: Legumes - Fabaceae.
Parts used: flowers, fruits, leaves and bark.
Botanical description: The height of the wide crown of the tree sometimes reaches 30 meters. The trunk is made of dense black bark and is dotted with grooves. The roots are well developed and go deep into the ground for many meters.
The leaf of the plant consists of four to eight paired oval, pointed leaves of light green color. Among the leaves on the branches you can see strong, sharp thorns.
White or pink small flowers exuding a strong and pleasant aroma, collected in large brushes up to 15 cm in length. Flower nectar is very attractive to bees, which is why acacia is classified as a honey-bearing plant.
The fruit is bean-shaped, flat, and up to 10 centimeters long. It contains dark-colored seeds.
White acacia flowers appear in spring in mid-May, and flowering continues throughout June. In September the fruits become ripe and may remain hanging on the branches during the winter.
Flowers, leaves, fruits in white acacia pods
Habitat: homeland of white locust in the Eastern USA and Canada. Naturalized throughout Europe, in the zone temperate climate Asia, North and South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and southern Latin America. It grows in moist, lime-rich soils in maple, oak, and pine forests, where it is a common component. Most often found in low-mountain forests (up to 1350 m above sea level).
Collection and preparation. White acacia inflorescences should be collected in May days when they have not yet fully opened. To dry, flowers should be placed in a dark place with good ventilation, where the air is dry and the temperature is no more than 30 degrees. Until the flowers are completely dry, stir them periodically.
The foliage and bark of Robinia false acacia (white acacia) is dried using the same method. But you can prepare them in more a long period from the moment the first leaves bloom until they fall.
The dried parts of the plant are placed in paper or fabric bags and stored in a dark place for storage.
Active ingredients. At the white acacia chemical composition fruits have not yet been sufficiently studied and require additional study. The flowers of the plant contain essential oils containing methyl anthranilate, heliotropin, tannins and salicylic acid esters, and the glycoside roblenin is also present. The leaves contain various flavonoids and their glycosides (acacin, acacetin, robinin). The bark contains tannins, fatty oils, stigmasterol, phytostyrine and toxic robinine.
Useful properties and applications
White acacia flowers are used as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant and antipyretic for radiculitis, myositis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism, neuralgia, colds, wounds, as well as for kidney diseases, including kidney stones, and Bladder. The bark is used in homeopathy in fresh mixed with young twigs at increased acidity stomach or duodenal and gastric ulcers.
White acacia is an excellent honey plant, with big tree bees can collect about 8 kg. honey Acacia honey is transparent, light yellow in color, with a slight greenish tint, has a pronounced taste and aroma of acacia flowers, and is one of the most medicinal. This type of honey for a long time remains liquid and does not become sugary.
Use in folk medicine
Recipes for infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and teas made from flowers, fruits, pods, bark, and roots are widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases.
ATTENTION!
Self-medication is dangerous! Before treating at home, consult your doctor.
White acacia treatment
- Adnexit(inflammation of the ovaries). Drink tea from Robinia flowers for a month. Make tampons (a spoonful of honey per liter boiled water). Tampons with oil are desirable.
- Sore throat, hoarseness. 2-3 ripe, brown pods of white acacia (Robinia false acacia), pour boiling water over them and place in a clean half-liter jar. Fill to the top hot water, close the lid, wrap it in a towel and let it brew. Gargle 3 times a day with warm (not hot) infusion. Diseases usually disappear on the third day.
- Arthrosis, Gout. Take 1 glass of Robinia flowers and wild seeds and pour 2 liters of kerosene. Leave in the dark for 10 days. Use as a rub to remove salts.
- Beli (leukorrhea). Pour 1 tablespoon of raw or dried white acacia flowers into 0.5 liters of water, boil, cool, strain and syringe.
- Infertility. Recipe for tincture of white acacia flowers (Robinia false acacia). To prepare it, pour 100 grams. fresh flowers 100 ml. vodka or alcohol, leave for 10 days. Take the tincture 3 times a day, diluted, mixing 20 drops of tincture with 1 tablespoon of water.
Drink 1 teaspoon of acacia flower juice 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 3 weeks. - Kidney disease, bladder disease. Pour 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried white acacia flowers (Robinia false acacia) into 0.5 liters of water, boil, cool, strain and drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
- Muscle pain
- Phlebeurysm. 1 part white acacia flowers, 3 parts alcohol (by weight), leave for 10-14 days. dark place, strain. Rub the venous nodes with alcohol tincture.
- Gastritis. Finely chop fresh shoots and leaves of white acacia, fill 2/3 of a half-liter bottle with them and fill to the top with vodka. Leave for 2 weeks. Drink tincture 20 drops 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
- Stomach bleeding. Pour 1 tablespoon of flowers into 300 ml of boiling water, wrap and leave for 2 hours. Drink 70 ml 3 times a day before meals as a hemostatic agent for stomach bleeding.
- Women's inflammatory diseases, uterine fibroids. Take a decoction of white acacia flowers (Robinia false acacia). To prepare it, add 1 tablespoon of dried flowers to 2 glasses of water and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. leave to simmer over low heat. Then filter the contents, cool and add water, bringing it to the original volume. A decoction of flowers is taken 3-4 times daily for 30 minutes. before meals, 1 tablespoon. This decoction is also used in folk medicine for colic of various origins as an antispasmodic.
- Stroke, Hypertension. Pour 1 dessert spoon of flowers into 1 glass of water, bring to a boil, turn off the heat, leave on the stove until cool, strain. Take 1 tablespoon of decoction 3 times a day, before meals.
- Salt deposits. Pour 2 cups of white acacia flowers into 0.5 liters of alcohol, bury them in the ground, leave for 10 days, strain. Wipe joints with vodka infusion.
- Periodontal disease. Grind 12-15 white acacia pods, pour in 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes, strain. Rinse your mouth for 3-5 minutes 3-4 times a day.
- Chronic pyelonephritis
- High blood pressure. 2 tablespoons of white acacia flowers, seeds, flowers with leaves, inflorescences in a ratio of 3:2:1:1 per 0.5 liters of water, boil for 3-4 minutes, leave for 8 hours, strain, take 1/4-1/ 3 glasses 3 times a day.
- Diarrhea, Flatulence. Pour 1 tablespoon of flowers into 1.5 cups of boiling water in a thermos, leave for 2 hours, strain. Take 1/3 cup of infusion 3 times a day.
- Kidney stone disease. Take 1 tablespoon of white acacia shoots (which grow 0.5-1 m from the main acacia trunk) and brew with boiling water for 20-30 minutes. Drink 3-4 glasses per warm(the more the better) for a month. Everything will come out as sand.
- Cold. Recipe 1. Pour two tablespoons of chopped fresh leaves of white acacia (Robinia false acacia) into 0.5 liters of water, bring to a boil, cool and drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
Recipe 2 (tea for colds). Pour 1 cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of dry petals and leave for 3-5 minutes. Drink with honey. - Cold, cough, antipyretic. 1 tablespoon of dried leaves, ground into powder, pour 1 cup of boiling water, put on fire and boil for 5 minutes. on low heat. Then cool, filter and take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
- . Pour 100 grams of black locust flowers with vodka and leave for 30 days. Grind 1 large one, add vodka, leave for 1 month. After a month, strain the tincture, mix, and apply to blood clots.
- Thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. Swollen venous nodes are well absorbed by generous wetting and rubbing with alcohol tincture of Robinia flowers (1:10).
- Radiculitis, bruises. Finely chop fresh shoots and leaves of white acacia, fill 2/3 of a half-liter bottle with them and fill to the top with vodka. Leave for 2 weeks. Rub the tincture on sore areas.
- Rheumatism, myositis, radiculitis, joint pain. Pour 50 gr. acacia flowers with 2 glasses of vodka, leave for 3 weeks dark room, remembering to shake periodically. Strain the finished tincture - folk remedy ready for grinding. Rubbing should be done in the morning and evening every day.
- Uterine fibroids. Prepare 3 milk bottles. Pour 2 cups of dried Robinia (white acacia) flowers into each bottle. Then pour 100 ml of boiled water into each cold water and 300 ml of alcohol. Seal tightly and leave for 10 days in a cool place. Drink without straining, 1 tablespoon before meals for 10 days. 3 days break, etc. In parallel with this treatment, drink potato juice. It is especially useful to drink juice in winter: drink 10 days, 10 days break.
- Chronic and acute cystitis. It is treated with a collection of white acacia flowers (10 tsp), (2 tsp), flowers (5 tsp). 50 gr. collection you need to pour 300 grams. water, let it boil and simmer for 8 minutes, then remove from heat and leave for 60 minutes. Strain and bring boiling water to the original volume. You need to drink this decoction daily 3 times a day before meals, 50 ml.
- Chronic cystitis. Pour 1 tablespoon of black locust flowers into 300 ml of boiling water, cover and leave for 2 hours. Drink 70 ml 3 times a day before meals.
- Stomach ulcer. Finely chop fresh shoots and leaves of white acacia, fill 2/3 of a half-liter bottle with them and fill to the top with vodka. Leave for 2 weeks. Drink tincture 20 drops 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Side effects. It is not recommended to treat white acacia yourself, since all parts of the plant contain toxic substances (in particular the alkaloid robinine). Violations in dosage cause severe poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning: nausea, diarrhea, headache, sharp abdominal pain, cardiovascular failure, severe weakness. If any of these symptoms appear, you should immediately rinse your stomach, drink Activated carbon and consult a doctor.
When harvesting acacia wood, the following symptoms of illness may occur: nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness
Contraindications. Facilities traditional medicine from white acacia (Robinia false acacia) are contraindicated for people with low stomach acidity.
Video about the beneficial properties and uses of Acacia
"White acacia clusters are fragrant"? No, that's not what the article is about. And because the post is not at all musical, and because “white acacia” is not an acacia at all. However, let's listen to the author. Of course, who cares, because here is a wonderful collection of one of the most common types of wood in the world from the Acacia genus. And that's a lot!Original taken from malamant in ACACIA in ISRAEL
MOST ACACIA BLOWERS IN SPRING. DO YOU COUNT THE HARVEST IN THE AUTUMN?
Not all that glitters is gold. Not every tree called an acacia is an acacia...
There are different holidays, including tree holidays
Acacias, particularly Acacia dulciflora, have been the unofficial floral emblem of Australia for many years, but it was not until 19 August 1988, Australia's Bicentenary, that Acacia dustiflora was declared Australia's national floral emblem.
The announcement ceremony took place on September 1, 1988 at the National botanical garden Australia. Four years later, in 1992, September 1 was officially declared National Acacia Day.
And for Israel, the dense-flowered acacia has become a scourge for some time now:
“At one time, Australian acacia was brought and planted in Israel specifically to strengthen the soil along highways and prevent landslides. The Australian guest successfully completed this task. However, the initiators of its planting did not take into account that we are talking about an unusually aggressive plant. last years Australian acacia grew rapidly and literally strangled many plant species, including endemic ones.
Ministry Agriculture and Jewish national fund(“Keren Kayemet Le-Israel”) decided to declare war on the Australian acacia. But it won’t be easy to fight: if you don’t have time to spray the acacia tree with the appropriate poison in the first 20 minutes after it starts flowering, it will manage to scatter tens of thousands of seeds into the air.”
The publication at the link indicates that dense-flowered acacia has infested the area adjacent to highway No. 1.
It is worth noting that the question of the dominance of alien acacias has been raised before, but we were talking about other species - Acacia saligna (Willow-leaved Acacia) and Acacia cyanophylla (Blue-leaved Acacia)
I decided to look into my storerooms to remember what the “enemy” looks like, and at the same time compare it with the acacia trees I encountered in Israel. As a result, “a new post was born”...
Dense-flowered acacia, or Golden acacia (Acacia pycnantha) is a species of tree from the genus Acacia (Acacia) of the Fabaceae family of the Mimosa subfamily. The name pycnantha comes from Greek words pyknos (dense) and anthos (flowers) due to the dense, dense inflorescences.
It depends on everyone, but I always have problems with the names of plants. For example, this very Acacia pycnantha has many synonyms:
Acacia falcinella Meisn.
Acacia petiolaris Lehm.
Acacia pycnantha var. petiolaris H.Vilm.
Acacia pycnantha var. pycnantha Benth.
Acacia westonii Maiden
Racosperma pycnanthum
Mimosa (lat. Mimosoideae, Mimosaceae)
Mimosa is a large subfamily of the legume family (Fabaceae). This subfamily is divided into three tribes: Acacia (Acacieae), Ingeae, Mimosa (Mimoseae). There are about 750 species of acacias, growing in the tropics and subtropics, mainly in Australia and Africa, with fewer in Asia and America. Acacias are especially characteristic of the flora of Australia (about half of all species), where they grow in savannas and thorny bushes. There are about 70 species of acacia in Israel.
The wood of "Australian ebony" and other types of acacia is highly valued for the manufacture of furniture and gun stocks, various finishing works, in mechanical engineering; is also used for fuel. It is scatteredly vascular, mostly red, with a distinct dark brown, almost black, sometimes crimson or yellowish-red core. Wood with a very pleasant smell that lasts for a long time in products.
The bark of most species contains 6-40% tannins.
A number of species are used to strengthen steep slopes and protecting the soil from erosion.
Plants are used for single, group and alley plantings in gardens and parks.
The scientific name of the genus Acacia comes from the Greek ake (point), the name of one of the thorny acacia trees, which is called Acacia tortilis. According to one version, the crown of thorns was made from such acacia. Let's start with it - a typical representative of the Israeli flora, one of the few wild trees in the south.
Twisted acacia / Acacia tortilis / שיטה סוככנית
A twisted stock is called because of the shape of the pods
Acacia raddiana / Acacia raddiana / שיטה סלילנית
This acacia is also typical of the deserts of Israel. “Sheeta slilanit” (singular), “shitim” (plural) - this is how acacia sounds in Hebrew. Some researchers believe that this is the same “shittim” tree from which, during the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, religious accessories were made for the Tabernacle, the portable Temple: the Altar and poles for carrying the Altar, the Ark of the Covenant and poles for carrying the Ark, the Table for loaves and poles for carrying the Table, beams for the Tabernacle and joints of beams for the Tabernacle (according to the biblical book of Exodus).
Acacia is an umbrella tree, but you can’t hide under its “umbrella” because of the thorns...
Acacia pravissima
Pods and leaves of the Acacia tree
Round-eyed acacia / Akacia cyclops / שיטה עגולת-זרעים
Acacia iteaphylla
Acacia pendula / Acacia pendula
Acacia drooping pod
At first glance, all these types of acacias are similar, like twin sisters. Yet they differ - in the colors of the flowers, the shape of the leaves and pods, as well as the beans
Acacia decurrens / Acacia decurrens
Acacia decurrens
Acacia Farnesiana / Acacia (Mimosa) farnesiana
Corkscrew Acacia / Acacia (Mimosa) tortuosa(as they say, find ten differences with previous view... In such cases, a sign next to the plant helps)
Acacia nematophylla
Acacia nematophylla pod
Willow-leaved acacia / Acacia salicina / שיטת עלי-הערבה
Willow-leaved acacia / Acacia salicina / שיטת עלי-הערבה
Acacia salicina and pods
Willow acacia / Acacia saligna / שיטה כחלחלה
Acacia karroo / Acacia karroo / שיטה חד-קרנית
(A very prickly creature)
Acacia karroo's inflorescence grows upward
Acacia sieberiana
Acacia (Levkena) gray, White-headed Mimosa / Acacia (Mimosa) leucocephala
Acacia pods (Levkena) gray
However, pods and “balls” do not always help in determining. Everything coincides with Acacia (Levkena) gray, but that one has white flowers, and here they are yellow... So if I made a mistake somewhere, correct a nature lover
Sweet-smelling acacia / Acacia redolens / שיטה שרועה.
Acacia (Pithecellobium) flexicaule
Pod of acacia flexiblestem
Acacia auricularis(?) / Acacia auriculiformis
Acacia melanoxylon
Acacia is also called species from other genera that are not related to the genus Acacia.
This is first of all:
Lankaran acacia (silk acacia, albizia) / Albizia julibrissin(Mimosa)
Acacia (Albizia) Lebbeck / Albizia lebbeck(Mimosa)
(Mimosa)
Acacia (Calliandra) selloi
Mimosa also includes Californian calliandra / Calliandra californica
Californian calliandra and pod
Acacia (Sophora) Japanese / Sophora japonica(legumes, or moths)
By the way, African Peltophorum / Peltophorum africanum (Caesalpiniaceae) - when it does not bloom, it is easy to confuse with acacia, except for the fact that it has absolutely no thorns.
Burning acacia / Delonix regia - Fire tree (Caesalpiniaceae family)
Widespread botanical misnomer "White acacia"- that's what they call it Robinia(legumes). By the way, "Yellow Acacia"- also not acacia, but not Robinia either, but a species of the genus Caragana (Caragana), Caragana arborescens(bean family).
Robinia was named so by Carl Linnaeus in honor of the French botanists father and son Jean Robin (1550-1629) and Vespasian Robin (1579-1662).
There is no established Russian name for the species Robinia pseudoacacia; many variants are found in the literature - “Robinia pseudoacacia”, “Robinia pseudoacacia”, “Robinia vulgaris”, “Robinia pseudoacacia”.
Well, let’s finish with the acacia tree, which gave rise to fasting and is filling the territory of Israel almost at the speed of sound.
Acacia dense-flowered began to be cultivated in Australia in the mid-19th century, after which it spread throughout the northern hemisphere.
Tannin is obtained from the bark; this form contains the largest amount of tannins.
The flowers are used in the perfume industry.
The shoots of this tree serve as food for livestock.
Before Australian aborigines boomerangs were made from acacia.
Acacia is often planted to prevent soil erosion. This mission of the densely flowered acacia in Israel, as stated above, has ended...
Bonus for those who read to the end
This entry was originally posted at
The acacia tree is well known throughout the world, as it not only grows in most countries, but is also a symbol of some of them, as well as the object of many legends and works of art and literature.
Habitual modern people The white or yellow clusters of this tree, which bloom in May, actually have a history of thousands of years. Acacias were used to decorate gardens and houses, and were used in medicine and religious ceremonies. There are probably no trees on the planet that have been more revered for many centuries by representatives of different civilizations and cultures than acacia. A photo cannot convey all the beauty and aroma of this plant, of which today there are more than 800 species.
History of acacia
The uniqueness of this tree was noticed by the ancient Egyptians, who believed that it simultaneously symbolizes both life and death, as it blooms with white and red flowers. It was for them a symbol of the Sun God, who revives life. The goddess of war and hunting Neith lived in its crowns.
In many cultures, the acacia tree symbolized purity and purity, and the ancient inhabitants of the Mediterranean believed that its thorns warded off evil spirits, and decorated their homes with plucked branches. And the nomads who traveled considered it sacred and believed that the one who broke the branch of this tree would die within a year.
The acacia tree, described in the Torah, was a symbol of holiness for the ancient Jews. Thus, the altar of the Jewish Temple and the tabernacle, in which it was originally kept, were made from its wood.
For Christians of the Middle Ages, it symbolized purity of thoughts and innocence, so houses were decorated with its branches. Acacia oil was used in rituals by various secret societies, and priests lubricated the altar and incense burners with it.
Places of growth
The acacia tree belongs to the legume family and can reach 25-30 meters in height. North America is considered to be the birthplace of the plant, although most of its species grow in tropical and subtropical forests of Africa, Asia, Mexico and Australia.
Depending on the location, this plant can be either trees or tree-like bushes. It has been cultivated in European countries since the 18th century because of its healing properties, beauty and strong wood. Today in many cities of Russia and the CIS you can see its most common species - Robinia, which is known as white acacia. The tree can withstand subzero temperatures as well as better known as mimosa. True white acacia grows exclusively in the tropical forests of Africa.
Description of the species
Regardless of where the plant grows, acacia has features common to the entire family:
These are traits common to most representatives of this species, although there are exceptions.
Acacia corkscrew
This is the most common tree in city parks and streets. Acacia, although usually growing quite quickly, reaches maturity with average speed over 40 years old.
With a height of 20 m and a width of 1.2 m, it has an asymmetrical crown and white flowers with a pleasant aroma, hanging in tassels up to 20 cm in length. Often corkscrew acacia can have two trunks, blooms from late May to early June, does not require care, and tolerates dry summers well. The elliptical-shaped leaves are bluish-green in summer and bright yellow in autumn. They appear quite late, almost simultaneously with the flowers.
Golden acacia
Small, only up to 12 m in height, these trees are immediately noticeable. Golden acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia) has several trunks and beautiful light yellow elliptical leaves. On curved, zigzag, thorny branches, foliage appears late, almost before flowering: in late May - early June.
This tree was first discovered in Holland in 1935. It blooms with white fragrant inflorescences up to 20 cm in length, the fruit is brown and flat. The leaves are imparipinnate and alternate, from 7 to 19 pieces per petiole.
This acacia does not require care, although it prefers humus, dry soil. In wet and heavy soil it may suffer from frost and die.
Acacia cone-shaped and umbrella
One of the old-timers among trees of this species is the cone-shaped acacia (Pseudoacacia Bessoniana). It lives up to 100 years and grows up to 20 meters in height, forming offspring. Often has several trunks.
The foliage is openwork, odd-pinnate, the crown can be either asymmetrical or free, round. It blooms not densely, with white fragrant clusters up to 20 cm in length. From 7 to 19 elliptical leaves of bluish-green color bloom on the petioles. Produces fruits up to 12 cm in length, in the form of flat brown beans. This acacia loves the sun very much and tolerates drought well; it is not picky about the soil. If you plant such a tree in the garden, you should avoid heavy and wet soil. In frosty conditions in such soil, acacia roots can be seriously damaged.
Acacia umbrella is found in Africa and in the deserts of Israel. On the hot continent, it lives in savannas and is loved by all its inhabitants, as it provides shade thanks to its crown, which looks like an umbrella. In fact, this is symbolic protection from the scorching rays of the sun, because its leaves are turned edge-on towards the luminary.
The tree has large, sharp spines that protect it from the numerous herbivores that inhabit the savannah. Blooms very small flowers with long stamens collected in a panicle. They come in yellow or white.
According to legend, it was from the umbrella acacia that the Jews who left Egypt made Noah's Ark.
Acacia street
Most often in specialized stores you can find street acacia, the seedlings of which are sold in flower pots.
Pseudoacacia Monophylla is slightly susceptible to environmental pollution, is a fast-growing and thornless tree species, reaching 25 m in height. The leaves of this acacia are imparipinnate and alternate: at the beginning of the petiole they are small in size, but towards the end they can reach 15 cm in length. The foliage is matte green in summer and yellow in autumn. It should be remembered that the leaves are very poisonous.
The branches may have a zigzag or horizontal, slightly raised appearance. It blooms with large white flowers collected in clusters up to 20 cm in length with a pleasant aroma. This tree loves the sun and is not picky about the composition of the soil.
Acacia bristlecone
This name refers both to a tree-like shrub, reaching a height of more than 2 meters, and to a tree, which, depending on the growing zone, can reach from 15 to 20 m. Powerful root system and strong, thorny zigzag branches make the plant wind-resistant. These types of acacia bloom with beautiful large flowers of purple or Pink colour without aroma, collected in inflorescences of 3-6 pieces.
The plant got its name due to the fact that its shoots are covered with reddish bristles. The leaves are dark green in spring and summer and yellow in autumn. If such an acacia grows in the garden, it attracts attention with its large and bright flowers.
Does not require additional care, prefers a quiet and sunny place, easily tolerates dry summers. Even poor soil is suitable for it.
Acacia pink
Robinia viscosa Vent., as it is also called, pink acacia native to the southeast North America, also cultivated in Ukraine. The tree can reach from 7 to 12 m in height, but its life expectancy is short.
The brown bark is smooth; the branches may have small spines. The shoots of the tree are covered with a sticky mass, which gave it its name. Acacia pink blooms large, up to 2-3 cm in length, odorless flowers. They are collected in erect clusters of 6-12 pieces and are also covered with sticky hairs that attract bees. The tree is an excellent honey plant and pollen plant.
Suitable for those gardeners who prefer to grow plants with long flowering, since there are 4-5 waves of flowering, lasting until mid-September, this type acacia The leaves of this tree are large, up to 20 cm in length. Bright green above, grayish below, they are collected on a petiole in quantities from 13 to 25 pieces.
The tree is unpretentious, frost-resistant (withstands up to -28 degrees), and can grow on any soil.
Silver acacia
Mimosa, well known to all post-Soviet women, is silver acacia, whose homeland is considered to be Australia and the island of Tasmania.
This evergreen tree can reach 45 m in its native region, but in other countries it does not exceed 12 meters. Its trunk has a light gray or brown tint with vertical cracks, from which gum flows.
The leaves are grayish-green, pinnately dissected twice, alternately on the petiole and reach from 10 cm to 20 cm in length. The flowers are very small, in the form of yellowish balls, collected in racemes, from which panicles are formed. They have a very strong and pleasant aroma.
Silver locust seeds are flat and hard and can be matte or slightly shiny black.
White acacia
Robinia, or false acacia (Robinia pseudacacia L.) has taken root well on the European continent and is familiar to many of its inhabitants. Its white flowers emit a very strong and pleasant aroma that attracts not only people, but also bees.
This tree lives on average from 30 to 40 years, has brownish bark, a spreading crown with green odd-pinnate leaves. The fruits of white acacia ripen in September - October and fall only next spring.
Acacia in medicine
The chemical composition of acacia bark and its effect on the body have not yet been fully studied, but today decoctions from it are recommended not only by traditional healers, but also official medicine. Since the bark, flowers and fruits of this plant are often poisonous, they can only be used after consultation with a doctor and in the doses recommended by him.
Acacia is recognizable by its fragrant flowering and original foliage compositions on the branches. Not everyone knows that this is one of the most common trees on the planet. It grows on all continents except Antarctica. There are at least 500 species of acacia in the world. They differ from each other in the shades of flowers and leaves, height, size and shape of the crown. This material contains descriptions and photos of the most popular varieties.
Robinia and its varieties
White acacia or Robinia false acacia was brought to Europe from North America.
She successfully acclimatized and became in demand in the middle zone. This type of acacia is in the form of a tree or planted in flat areas with a lack of moisture, because the plant:
- drought-resistant;
- strengthens the soil;
- protects other plantings from the wind.
Attention! White acacia grows quickly. In a couple of years you can improve a wild steppe area with it.
Description:
- height - up to 20-25 m;
- crown - openwork, flat;
- leaves - thin, oblong;
- green color is pale, with a silvery tint;
- spine length - 4-5 cm;
- flowers - white or cream;
- blooms in April-May, with a sweet aroma.
Attention! The tree reaches its maximum height in regions with warm climates. Important condition- sufficient hydration.
Plantings of such plants look decorative. In addition, their wood is hard, strong and not prone to cracking and rotting. Such raw materials are valued at the level of ash or oak. Wood is used in carpentry, because it is easy to polish and does not lose its presentability under the influence of sun rays.
White acacia has several subspecies that differ from each other:
- New Mexican;
- Sticky;
- Stubble-haired.
The differences between them lie in some structural features of the leaves and shoots. In terms of height, bristle-haired Robinia is the lowest, no higher than 3 m. It has purple or lilac inflorescences. The rest of the trees are white.
Pink and Crimean varieties. Mimosa
Pink acacia is different lush flowering. The name of the tree was determined by the bright flowers. At the same time, the characteristic aroma from them is barely perceptible. In the southern regions with early spring, pink acacia can bloom twice - in April and in September. Normally this period falls in May. Other features:
- height - 7-12 m;
- crown - wide;
- bark - brown, smooth;
- leaves are long, complex in structure, rich green;
- The spines are large, white, but soft to the touch.
Attention! The pink variety is called the most unpretentious in the family. The tree copes with summer heat, and with a drop in temperature to -30°C.
Silver acacia is an evergreen crop. It is well known under the name mimosa. The homeland of the plant is Australia. This is associated with a growing season that is not quite typical for the northern hemisphere. Therefore, mimosa is cultivated in the southern regions: the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean coast.
Other characteristics:
- The crown forms a spreading umbrella. It consists of long feather-like carved leaves.
- Grows up to 10-12 m. The trunk is covered with smooth gray-brown bark.
- This type of acacia blooms in February and lasts about a month. The tree throws out inflorescences - densely filled panicles of bright yellow pompoms (0.5-0.8 mm in diameter).
Crimean (silk) acacia or Lenkoran albizia is beautiful with openwork foliage. This property gives greenery an abundance of thin white veins. At night the leaves curl up. The Crimean variety also blooms in an original way. The fluffy flowers consist of many thin petals and resemble a dandelion, only colored pink or scarlet. During the flowering phase, the tree emits a pleasant smell. The maximum height of the plant is 12 m. It is quite demanding in terms of care. The crop is grown on dry soils with plenty of sunlight. It is not suitable for cool northern regions.
Other types of wood
Among other acacias in demand by gardeners are: Chinese. It is a spreading shrub up to 10 m high. The leaves are small, arranged in pairs. During flowering, the bush is densely covered with bright fluffy inflorescences. The aroma is reminiscent of violet and raspberry. Chinese view Acacia grows in warm regions where there is no risk of frost on the ground during the warm season.
Lenkoranskaya
Armed or paradoxical acacia unusual for its miniature size. This shrub grows to only 1-3 m. Its leaves are asymmetrical, with a silvery tint. Their length is up to 2.5 cm. The pointed stipule of the plant replaces the thorn. The armed variety blooms in April, producing colorful yellow flowers.
Advice. Due to its size, this type of acacia is used as a hanging crop.
Sophora or Japanese variety- just like the classic acacia, it belongs to the legume family. The tree grows up to 25 m. It has no thorns. It is especially decorative because of its lush paniculate inflorescences of long flowers. From the side, the crown of the tree seems weightless. Flowering occurs in mid-summer.
Willow- another representative of evergreen acacias. The culture has a spreading crown measuring about 8 m. There are no thorns, the leaves are long and narrow, dark green. The branches are thin and drooping. During the flowering phase, it forms bright yellow inflorescence balls.
Acacia is a heat-loving crop. But many of its species are adapted for growing in cool climates. Most often, the tree is unpretentious and hardy under minimally suitable conditions.
Among the variety of types of acacia, false white, tree-like yellow and shrubby silver have become widespread in culture - it is on its branches that cute fluffy flowers of bright yellow color bloom, which are all traditionally called mimosa. There are quite a few dwarf varieties, which, due to their compactness, can grow on a windowsill.
Acacia (Acacia) is a plant from the legume family (Fabaceae). Homeland - Australia. The genus includes more than a thousand species, of which armed acacia (A. armata) is grown as an indoor crop.
This is an evergreen low-growing (up to 1 m) shrub. Stems are thorny; leaves are leathery, with widened petioles, dark green, 1–3 cm long; flowers in the form of golden balls up to 1 cm in diameter.
Below are photos, names and descriptions of acacia varieties, as well as recommendations for growing indoor species.
Yellow acacia tree: photo and description of its decorative appearance
yellow acacia, or caragana tree (Caragana arborescens)– a well-known, familiar tree, covered from the end of May and throughout June yellow flowers. Everyone calls it acacia, but in fact it is caragana tree, and real acacias grow in hot tropical countries.
The scientific name of the genus Caragana comes from the Latin word for the dark brown foxes that once lived in the bush. The species name, arborescens, is translated from Latin as “tree-like.”
Caragana is grown as an ornamental shrub. Thanks to the spiny stipules, dense foliage, which is created by complex pair-pinnate, slightly pubescent leaves.
As you can see in the photo, yellow acacia can serve as a hedge:
This is an unpretentious shrub, not demanding on the soil; moreover, it helps improve it, since nitrogen-fixing bacteria settle in the root tissues.
The yellow acacia plant is not afraid of frost, frost and drought, and grows back well after any pruning. Many birds find nesting places in the thickets, and the seeds falling from the ripened bean fruits serve as excellent food for them.
Yellow acacia tree - good honey plant, bees, while collecting nectar, simultaneously promote cross-pollination.
Silver acacia or mimosa shrub (with photo)
Silver acacia, or mimosa (Acacia dealbatax)- This is an evergreen shrub or low tree with graceful double-pinnate, soft, numerous leaves, originating from Australia. In Russia, silver acacia has settled down well and grows successfully on Black Sea coast Caucasus.
These photos show how beautiful silver acacia is during flowering:
Perhaps no one here calls this plant silver acacia, everyone calls it mimosa, although real mimosas (genus Mimosa) grow in the tropics of America, Asia and Africa, and in Russia - only in greenhouses.
Beautiful shoots of this variety of acacia with small pale yellow flowers in capitate or spike-shaped inflorescences with a special light spicy-sweet invigorating aroma received the name mimosa and have long become a symbol of spring.
It is at this time, when there is still snow everywhere in central Russia, that in the historical homeland of the silver acacia the time of its flowering comes. At the end of February - beginning of March, mimosa begins to bloom in the south of Russia. From there, bouquets of this plant come to every home and fill the mood with anticipation of spring and holidays.
See what the silvery appearance of acacia looks like in these photos:
White acacia: description and use of the plant
White acacia or Robinia false acacia (La. Robinia pseudoacacia)– this is extremely beautiful tree grows naturally in eastern and central North America. It was first brought to Europe in 1601. In France, in Paris, one of those copies still survives.
When describing white acacia, it is especially worth noting its durability; in suitable conditions, it lives up to three hundred years or more. It was brought to us in the 70–80s of the 18th century. Initially, it was planted only in Ukraine, in the gardens of rich estates. After 100 years, it began to be used for planting in shelterbelts and along railways. But its distribution for a long time was limited by weak frost resistance.
However, there was a person who was not satisfied with this situation. And before the war, frost-resistant acacia appeared. And not just anywhere, but right next to Moscow, although before that it did not grow north of Kursk, and even froze there. Having sorted through several thousand seed samples, Professor A.S. Yablokov received several specimens from the nursery of the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Forestry and Forestry Reclamation, which safely survived frosts of up to 40 °C in 1939–1942 and bloomed and bear fruit every year. The descendants of these acacias now grow in many cities north of the former border of its distribution. The northernmost fruit-bearing white acacia has reached as far as Vologda region. There are several trees in my botanical garden; they did not freeze even at 42 degrees below zero in 1979.
One of important characteristics when describing the plant white acacia - high growth rate and unpretentiousness. It is capable of growing on almost barren sands, which was taken advantage of in the Baltic states, where it was planted to strengthen the creeping sands on the dunes of the Curonian Spit. The roots of white acacia spread 20 m from the tree and easily produce root shoots, therefore, with sufficient light, white acacia quickly forms thickets. Moreover, it is one of the fastest growing breeds. Already a one-year-old seedling can grow up to 1 m by the end of the year, and a shoot growing on the roots of an old tree can even grow up to 2–2.5 m during this time. Of course, these data are for optimal, southern conditions, but no one is slow Acacia growth does not complain. In two years the growth is taller than a human being.
The white type of acacia is a tall, spreading tree with heavily wrinkled bark, an openwork crown, unpaired pinnate leaves with six to eight pairs of leaflets. By evening, the leaves descend vertically; during the day they are spread horizontally, forming a “ladder”, and therefore do not shade each other. However, in too bright sun the leaves rise and turn their edges towards the falling rays, which protects them from overheating; the tree is light-loving.
The stipules of each leaf are turned into sharp spines. On the branches of an old tree they are not so large, but on young shoots they reach 2 cm and look terrifying, especially since there are two of them near each leaf.
Look at the photo - acacia flowers are white, very fragrant, 1.5–2 cm in size, collected in dense drooping brushes, 10–20 cm long:
There are so many of them on the tree that during flowering it turns completely white. The fruit is a bean, it is flat, 5-10 cm long. The beans are collected in clusters and remain on the tree until spring, and sometimes autumn next year. White acacia seeds are poisonous.
White acacia has very beautiful, durable wood, old trees reach a thickness of 70 cm. Old branches are very fragile, when collecting flowers you need to be careful: if you pull the branch a little harder, it breaks. In the south, white acacia reaches 26 m in height (an eight-story building), in our middle zone it is much lower - 6–7 m.
White acacia grows in almost any soil. Reproduces by root suckers and seeds. Seeds are collected in winter or at the very beginning of spring. For rapid germination, they are poured with boiling water for 10–15 seconds and immediately after that they are sown in pots or boxes. Seeds sown in March or April turn into well-developed seedlings in May, which are planted in a separate bed according to a 20x45 cm pattern, and next spring they are transplanted into permanent place. The first two to three years, acacia grows slowly, but in subsequent years the growth can reach 50–70 cm. Plants bloom already in 4–5 years.
White acacia has high winter hardiness. At a temperature of –30°C, the tops of annual shoots freeze slightly. Dead or damaged areas of branches are pruned in the summer. Pests and diseases are practically absent in the conditions of central Russia.
As you can see in the photo, this variety of acacia is decorative at any time of the year:
In summer, the openwork crown is very attractive, and during flowering (June-July) the tree is strewn with clusters of fragrant flowers.
During the leafless period, the architecture of plants is unique. Old and young branches of mature trees bend roundly in the horizontal plane. In winter, numerous fruits add decorative value to the plant.
Loves warm, sunlit places. An excellent background plant. In group plantings it creates a light green background thanks to its transparent crown and lacy foliage.
The flowers of Robinia, as this plant is scientifically called, contain a large number of essential oil, which is used in perfumery. Flowers are also used in medicine - for diseases of the kidneys and bladder, as a choleretic agent, for aromatizing tea mixtures.
And in the south, where Robinia is the most common plant, its flowers have found other uses. They are dipped in batter and fried like donuts. Of course, you have to spit out the twigs, but it’s still delicious. From white acacia flowers you can make exactly the same marmalade as from rosehip petals. True, the first days it smells strongly green peas, then this smell disappears and the marmalade acquires the aroma of acacia flowers. In addition to the pleasant smell, it is also a nice light green color, unlike rosehip, which quickly turns from pink to beige. They look very nice in one box. You can also make a flower wine with a very delicate taste from white acacia. It recently became clear that acacia wine has long been made in Germany, where it is considered a tonic drink.
In 1900 in St. Petersburg, a description of the acacia plant was given in very interesting book. These are four small format, but plump volumes with long name“A complete Russian illustrated herbal and flower dictionary, compiled according to the latest botanical and medical works by doctors E.N. Zalesova and O.V. Petrovskaya". This dictionary contains all kinds of Russian local names for each plant, its origin is indicated, and short description and methods of use. So, about white acacia it is written: “White acacia is a fragrant acacia. In Moldova and Wallachia, fragrant water is infused with flowers and sherbet is prepared.” Moldavia and Wallachia, which lie near the Danube, were at one time under strong Turkish influence, hence some dishes of Turkish origin, including such as sherbet.
Here you can see photos of acacia species, the descriptions of which are given on this page:
Growing and caring for indoor acacia at home
To grow acacia at home, the following conditions must be met.
Lighting. The plant is light-loving. In winter, it requires a 4-hour artificial extension of daylight hours.
Temperature. The optimal temperature for the growth and development of home acacia is 20°C in summer, and not lower than 5°C in winter.
Air humidity. At low room temperatures, acacia does not need spraying.
Every 2 years, the acacia must be replanted until the end of flowering.
Pests and diseases. If care when growing acacia was not careful enough, the plant can be affected by aphids. At high humidity and winter temperatures, root rot is possible.
If the stems of a plant are covered with a sticky liquid, then this is definitely a trace of sucking pests - aphids, whiteflies, thrips, after which honeydew remains on the plant, which is later covered with black mold. Collect insects, then treat the plant with an insecticide.
When replanting a plant in the ground, you can see centipedes. If their number does not exceed 2–3 individuals, then there is nothing to worry about, but if there are more than 5–6 of them, then the plant needs to be urgently replanted, completely replacing the substrate. Centipedes are dangerous for seedlings and rooted cuttings because they gnaw off the roots, causing the plant to stop developing.