Alien Invasives
Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii)
01 October 2016
- Other names
- Swartwattel (Afrikaans)
- Invasive status
-
NEMBA Category 2
CARA 2002 Category 2 - Description
- Medium evergreen tree, 5 to 10m tall with dark olive-green, finely hairy leaves. Abundant pale yellow or cream spherical flowers in large fragrant sprays from August to September. Fruits are dark brown, finely haired pods.
- Originally from
- South-eastern Australia and Tasmania
- Where is it a problem?
- Throughout the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng
- How does it spread?
- Seed dispersal and suckers
- Why is it a problem?
- Competes with and replaces indigenous grassland and riverine species. Grasslands are invaded by dense thickets of black wattle, which reduced the grazing area for domestic and wild animals.
- Planting alternatives
- Weeping Wattle (Peltophorum africanum), Hook Thorn Acacia (Acacia caffra), Karee (Searsia lancea), Mountain Karee (Searsia leptodactyla)
- Uses
- Leather tanning and firewood
Please help...
Any donations would be greatly appreciated and are much needed to support these efforts. Please consider setting up a stop order with your bank for a regular monthly contribution rather than (or in addition to) a one-off donation. This would greatly assist us in budgeting and planning for the future.
Please EFT to the following account:
| Bank: | Nedbank |
| Branch name: Branch code: |
Morning Glen Branch 198 765 |
| Account Name: | Sandspruit Ullmann Park Association |
| Account Number: | 1014 852 641 |
| Reference: | Your name |
Any questions? Please contact us by clicking here.