Acacia melanoxylon

Blackwood at Theodore, ACT

Acacia melanoxylon at Theodore, ACT - 1 May 2019
Acacia melanoxylon at Theodore, ACT - 1 May 2019
Acacia melanoxylon at Theodore, ACT - 1 May 2019
Acacia melanoxylon at Theodore, ACT - 1 May 2019
Acacia melanoxylon at Theodore, ACT - 1 May 2019
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Identification history

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

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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.
   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.
   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.

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Location information

Sighting information

Species information

  • Acacia melanoxylon Scientific name
  • Blackwood Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Non-invasive or negligible
  • Up to 1744.23m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • In flower
  • External link More information
  • Ngunnawal language

    Nummerak
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