Acacia melanoxylon

Blackwood at Theodore, ACT

Request use of media

Identification history

Acacia melanoxylon	1 May 2019	michaelb
Acacia implexa	29 Apr 2019	BettyDonWood
Acacia melanoxylon	29 Apr 2019	owenh

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

12 comments

BettyDonWood wrote:

30 Apr 2019

On this dry slope it is more likely to be implexa. It is difficult to tell the two species apart, except for flowering time (in Canberra around summer for implexa; around winter for melanoxylon) or if they are seeding ( pinky red fleshy appendage wrapped around the seed in melanoxylon and white appendage folded on itself at the base of the seed in implexa). Also melanoxylon is found usually im moist siteslike moist stream banks, implexa on dry sites.

BettyDonWood wrote:

30 Apr 2019

I have found one seed in photo 4. Definitely implexa.

Mike wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Acacia melanoxylon is also found on high, dry sites around Canberra. It might be useful to compare bud development in Autumn and Spring The funicle colour can fade and if weathered it is hard to tell. I might get the identifications wrong but I think the leaf shape is different for the local species too.

BettyDonWood wrote:

30 Apr 2019

The funicle colour may fade but there is a big difference in how it is arranged on the seed.

Mike wrote:

30 Apr 2019

I will have to take more notice. There are still a few melanoxylon seeds around and I should be able to find implexa.

owenh wrote:

30 Apr 2019

Mike, your images of the melanoxylon seed funicles (3343866, 4204113) are also very helpful.

michaelb wrote:

30 Apr 2019

It looks like Acacia melanoxylon to me. There are too many differences. The leaf shape especially is not normal for Acacia implexa. Both species occur in the area. I have an Acacia implexa growing in my back yard and it is nothing like this plant.

Mike wrote:

1 May 2019

There don't seem to be any photos of A. implexa seed on CNM but Flora of the ACT gives a good description:
white funicle in few folds at one end - A. implexa
seeds encircled by double fold of bright red funicle - A. melanoxylon

BettyDonWood wrote:

1 May 2019

That is what I saw.

michaelb wrote:

1 May 2019

Sorry Betty
The seed in photo 4 looks like one from Acacia melanoxylon. I've cropped the photo to blow up the seed and added it back. Also see:
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Acacia~melanoxylon
As well as my other work, I'm a moderator for Tuggeranong Hill.

BettyDonWood wrote:

1 May 2019

I can see it now. Thanks.

owenh wrote:

2 May 2019

Image 5 of seed, taken at site today, added.

Please Login or Register to comment.