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Re: Acacias (was "Mimosa")

>Message text written by Michael Bailes
>On the topic of Acacias, I've been trying to help
I'm tring to help a local university put in  an ethnobotanical garden.
Any Acacia suggestions??<

Acacia bidwilli:
Edible roots of young trees, timber - fuel.

A. catechu:
Used medicinally, for timber and firewood, for tanning and dyeing.

A. concinna:
Herb concentrate from pods (not sure why ?)

A. dealbata:
Timber - fuel, tanning, edible gum.

A. decurrens:
Tanning, fragrance "oil of Mimosa".

A. farnsiana:
Cooking oil, perfumes and fragrances "oil of cassia", medicinal, food
flavouring, insecticides, dye.

-----------
Perhaps  A. decurrens and A. farnsiana were introduced to southern France
due to their use in perfumery - I believe "oil of cassia" is still very
expensive . . .
-----------

A. flexicaulis:
Edible seeds, timber - fuel.

A. longifolia:
Edible seeds, also used as fodder.

A. melanoxyn:
Timber - cabinet work.

A. niopo:
Probably a synonym for Anadenanthera peregrina - "Yopo" or "Cohoba" south
American ethnobotanical plant that has had many reports from as far back as
1496. Used as a daily stimulant (as we might use coffee), in healing
rituals and other ceremonies, and as a hunting aid for both hunters and
their dogs.

A. pycnantha:
Timber - fuel, tanning, edible gum also used in inks and fabric printing.

A. senegal (also A. nilotica. A. glaucophylla, A. abyssinica, A. gummifera,
A. arabica):
Medicinal syrups and pastilles, chewing gum and sweets may contain "gum
Arabic" for various reasons (to prevent suger crystalising - E414). Highly
nutritious Gum Arabic (gum acacia) has been used as a food, a survival
food, and a food for convalescents. It is also used to bind paint - water
colours and tempera, as a glue and a size and in lithography.

A. suaveolens:
Timber - fuel, leaves used as tea.

Various Acacias are recommended as hedge/barrier plants, used for land
stabilisation and as providers of Bee food - Acacia honey. Recently some
have found a niche in shamanic healing as "Ayahuasca analogues" which
suggests potential pharmaceutical use in headache remedies, against immune
deficiency (AIDS) and against nervous conditions - anxiety, depression.

I hope this is helpful, best wishes
Matt Sleigh
http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/
Paguignan, Olonzac, France.
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