Mulga
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Acacia Species: A. aneura
Binomial name
Acacia aneura F.Muell. ex Benth.

Acacia aneura, commonly known as Mulga or True Mulga, is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback Australia. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 493 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1736 × 2112 pixel, file size: 551 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Acacia aneura - Mulga acacia (Fabaceae) Flowers leaves and seedpods at Kaumalapau Hwy, Lanai, Hawaii. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Divisions Green algae land plants (embryophytes) non-vascular embryophytes Hepatophyta - liverworts Anthocerophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses vascular plants (tracheophytes) seedless vascular plants Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongue ferns seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class: this name is formed by replacing the termination -aceae in the name Magnoliaceae by the termination -opsida (Art 16 of the ICBN). ... Families Fabaceae (legumes) Quillajaceae Polygalaceae (milkwort family) Surianaceae The Fabales are an order of flowering plants, included in the rosid group of dicotyledons. ... Subfamilies Faboideae Caesalpinioideae Mimosoideae References GRIN-CA 2002-09-01 The name Fabaceae belongs to either of two families, depending on viewpoint. ... Species About 1,300; see List of Acacia species Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1773. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Baron Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller (German: Müller) (June 30, 1825 - October 10, 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably botanist. ... George Bentham George Bentham (September 22, 1800 – September 10, 1884) was an English botanist, perhaps the greatest systematic botanist of the 19th century. ... Binominal name Acacia aneura In botany, a Mulga (Acacia aneura) is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback Australia. ... For other uses, see Outback (disambiguation). ...

Description

Mulga is highly variable, in form, in height, and in shape of phyllodes and seed pods. It can form dense forest up to 15 metres high, or small, almost heath-like low shrubs spread well apart. Most commonly, it is a tall shrub. Because it is so variable, the taxonomy of the Mulga has been studied extensively, and although it is likely to be split into several species eventually, there is as yet no consensus on how or even if this should be done. Although generally small in size, Mulga is long-lived, a typical lifespan for a tree undisturbed by fire is in the order of 200 to 300 years. This article is about a community of trees. ... Look up taxonomy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Lifespan is the maximum number of years a species can survive, defined by the oldest documented age of an individual member. ...

Mulga has developed extensive adaptations to the Australian desert. Like many Acacia species, Mulga has thick-skinned phyllodes. These are optimised for low water loss, with a high oil content, sunken stomata, and a profusion of tiny hairs to reduce transpiration. During dry periods, a Mulga drops much of its foliage to the ground, which provides an extra layer of mulch and from where the nutrients can be recycled. For the act of abandoning or withdrawing support from an entity, see desertion. ... Species About 1,300; see List of Acacia species Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1773. ... Phyllodes are modified petioles or leaf stems. ... This is not about surgically created bowel openings; see stoma (medicine) In botany, a stoma (also stomate; plural stomata) is a tiny opening or pore, found mostly on the undersurface of a plant leaf, and used for gas exchange. ... Transpiration is the evaporation of excess water from aerial parts and of plants, especially leaves but also stems, flowers and fruits. ... In agriculture and gardening, mulch is a protective cover placed over the soil, primarily to modify the effects of the local climate. ...

Like most Australian Acacia species, mulga is thornless.^[1]. The needle-like phyllodes stand erect to avoid as much of the midday sun as possible and capture the cooler morning and evening light. Any rain that falls is channeled down the phyllodes and branches to be collected in the soil immediately next to the trunk, providing the tree with a more than threefold increase in effective rainfall. Mulga roots penetrate far into the soil to find deep moisture. The roots also harbour bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen and thus help deal with the very old, nutrient poor soils the species grows in. Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland Technically, soil forms the pedosphere: the interface between the lithosphere (rocky part of the planet) and the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its relatively inert molecular form (N2) in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds (such as, notably, ammonia, nitrate and nitrogen dioxide)[1] useful for other chemical processes. ... General Name, symbol, number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, period, block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless gas Standard atomic weight 14. ...

Mulga woodland in Southwestern Queensland. The tallest trees in this photograph are approximately 7m.

South of Barrow Creek, NT: November 2003 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... South of Barrow Creek, NT: November 2003 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie retiring as of 13. ... For other uses, see M (disambiguation). ...

Habitat and Ecology

Mulga savanna and mulga co-dominant tussock grasslands cover roughly 20% of the Australian continent, or about 1.5 million square kilometres. The mean rainfall for much of the habitat for Acacia aneura in Australia is roughly 200-250 mm/year, but it goes to as high as 500 mm/year in New South Wales and Queensland. The lowest mean rainfall that it grows in is about 50-60 mm/year.^[2]. Both summer and winter rainfall are necessary to maintain mulga and the species is absent from semiarid regions that experience summer or winter drought ^[3] “Savannah” redirects here. ... Any grass of the poaceae family that grows in clumps or tufts may be called bunch grass. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... ‹ The template below (Unit of length) is being considered for deletion. ... In statistics, mean has two related meanings: the arithmetic mean (and is distinguished from the geometric mean or harmonic mean). ... In meteorology, precipitation is any kind of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather. ... Look up habitat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... MM or variations may refer to: Machinists Mate, a rating in the United States Navys engineering community Macromedia, an American software company Majoras Mask, a game in the Legend of Zelda series of games Malice Mizer, a Japanese visual kei band Market maker, a person or a... “NSW” redirects here. ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie retiring as of 13. ... Fields outside Benambra, Victoria, Australia suffering from drought conditions A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. ...

Mulga scrub is distinctive and widespread. The dominant species in these woodlands is Mulga with poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) forming an increasingly important co-dominant in the eastern districts ^[4][5]. The extent of ground cover in mulga woodlands varies with canopy density of the overstorey, becoming almost non-existent in extremely dense stands. In more open stands the herbaceous layer consists of wire grasses (Aristida spp), Mulga oats (Monocather sp.), Mulga mitchell (Thyridolepis sp.), Wanderrie (Eriachne spp.), finger grasses (Digitaria spp.) and love grasses (Eragrostis spp.). Various other woody species are also significant in mulga woodlands, particularly hop bushes (Dodonaea spp.), Eremophila and Cassia (Senna spp.) ^[6][7]. Limber Pine woodland, Toiyabe Range, central Nevada Biologically, a woodland is a treed area differentiated from a forest. ... Binomial name Eucalyptus populnea, commonly known as Poplar box or Bimble box is an endemic tree of Australia. ... Groundcover is any plant used for the purpose of growing over an area of ground to hide it or to protect it from erosion or drought. ... The three-awns are a genus Aristida of grasses distinguished by having three awns (bristles) on each lemma of each floret. ... Species See text. ... Species E. tef References ITIS 40716 2002-09-03 Lovegrass is a genus of grass. ... Dodonaea is a botanical name for a genus of flowering plants, in the family Sapindaceae. ... Species The bird genus Eremophila comprises the two horned larks: the Shore Lark, Eremophila alpestris, known in North America as the Horned Lark, and Temmincks Lark, or Temmincks Horned Lark, Eremophila bilopha. ... Senna, (Cassia acutifolia) is a medicinal herb. ...

Mulga growing as a widely spaced shrub in Southwestern Queensland. The tallest plants are approximately 2.5m.

In contrast to the eucalypt woodlands that dominate much of Australia, mulga woodlands are not well adapted to regular fire and species in mulga communities vary in their ability to survive fires ^[8][9]. Many species, including mulga itself, have a very limited ability to resprout after fire, and rely instead on mechanisms of seed production for species survival. Many plants produce hard, woody fruits or seeds, which can not only survive intense heat but may require the stimulus of fire to scarify and promote germination. Long-lived seed store in soil is also common in these woodlands ^[10][11][12] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie retiring as of 13. ... Eucalypts are tree species belonging to three closely related genera, Angophora, Corymbia and Eucalyptus. ... For other uses, see Fire (disambiguation). ... Not to be confused with Gemination in phonetics. ...

There are a number of recognised varieties:

• A. a. var. aneura
• A. a. var. argentea
• A. a. var. fuliginea
• A. a. var. intermedia
• A. a. var. macrocarpa
• A. a. var. major
• A. a. var. microcarpa
• A. a. var. pilbarana
• A. a. var. tenuis

Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ... Trinomial name Acacia aneura var. ...

Uses

Bee forage

Mulga acacia (Fabaceae) Flowers and leaves at Kaumalapau Hwy, Lanai, Hawaii.

The tree's flowers provide forage for bees, especially when there is enough water available.^[13] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2112 × 2816 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2112 × 2816 pixel, file size: 2. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... Forage is the herbaceous plant material (mainly grasses and legumes) eaten by grazing animals. ... For other uses, see Western honey bee and Bee (disambiguation). ...

Fodder

Mulga is of great economic important to Australia, especially the pastoral industry. Despite containing considerable amounts of indigestible tannins, mulga leaves are a valuable fodder source, particularly in times of drought, as it is palatable to stock and provides up to 12% crude protein.^[13] Pastoralism is a form of farming, such as agriculture and horticulture. ... A bottle of tannic acid. ... Fodder growing from barley In agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ...

Food

Acacia aneura Branch with Seed Pods

The seeds of Acacia aneura were used to make seedcakes. The mulga apple is an insect gall commonly eaten by Aborignal people. Mulga tree gum (Ngkwarle alkerampwe in the Arrernte language) is a type of lerp scale found on mulga branches. It provides a tasty honey-like treat for Indigneous people.^[13] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Aboriginal millstone - vital in making flour or pastes for bread. ... The mulga apple, is an Australian bush tucker food, often eaten by Aborigines of Central Australia. ... Kalanchoë infected with crown-gall using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. ... Languages Several hundred indigenous Australian languages (many extinct or nearly so), Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English, Torres Strait Creole, Kriol Religions Primarily Christian, with minorities of other religions including various forms of Traditional belief systems based around the Dreamtime Related ethnic groups see List of Indigenous Australian group names Indigenous... Arrente is both a language, a group of people, and an area of land in Central Australia. ... In biology, a lerp is a structure of crystallized honeydew produced by larvae of psyllid insects as a protective cover. ... For other uses, see Honey (disambiguation). ...

Wood

Construction

Acacia aneura Bark

Wood from Acacia aneura stands up very well to being buried in soil and it is used for posts. The wood has a density of about 850-1100 kg/m³.^[13] Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Density (disambiguation). ...

Fuel

The wood is very good as firewood. Very good quality charcoal can be produced from it.^[13] Wood burning is the largest current use of biomass derived energy. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. ...

Implements

Mulga was a vital tree to Indigenous Australians in Central Australia; the wood was a good hardwood for making various implements, such as digging sticks and woomeras. Central Australia is a term used to describe the area of land surrounding and including Alice Springs in Australia. ... Beech is a typical temperate zone hardwood For the record label, see Hardwood Records. ... In archaeology and anthropology a digging stick is the term given to a variety of wooden implements used primarily by subsistence-based cultures to dig out underground food such as roots and tubers or burrowing animals and anthills. ... The woomera in this picture is the wooden object at left A woomera is an Australian Aboriginal spear-throwing device. ...

References

Notes

1. ^ Arid Zone Trees
2. ^ FAO
3. ^ Weston, E. J. (1988). Native Pasture Communities. Native pastures in Queensland their resources and management. W. H. Burrows, J. C. Scanlan and M. T. Rutherford. Brisbane, Department of Primary Industries.
4. ^ Harrington, G. N., D. M. D. Mills, et al. (1984). Semi-arid woodlands. Management of Australia's Rangelands. G. N. Harrington and A. D. Wilson. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing.
5. ^ Burrows, W. H., J. O. Carter, et al. (1990). "Management of savannas for livestock production in north-east Australia: contrasts across the tree-grass continuum." Journal of biogeography 17: 503-512.
6. ^ Weston, E. J. (1988). Native Pasture Communities. Native pastures in Queensland their resources and management. W. H. Burrows, J. C. Scanlan and M. T. Rutherford. Brisbane, Department of Primary Industries.
7. ^ Burrows, W. H., J. O. Carter, et al. (1990). "Management of savannas for livestock production in north-east Australia: contrasts across the tree-grass continuum." Journal of biogeography 17: 503-512.
8. ^ Hodgkinson, K. C., G. N. Harrington, et al. (1984). Management of vegetation with fire. Management of Australia’s Rangelands. G. N. Harrington and A. D. Wilson. Melbourne, CSIRO Publishing.
9. ^ Dyer, R., A. Craig, et al. (1997). Fire in northern pastoral lands. Fire in the management of northern Australian pastoral lands. T. C. Grice and S. M. Slatter. St. Lucia, Australia, Tropical Grassland Society of Australia.
10. ^ White, M. E. (1986). The Greening of Gondwana. Frenchs Forest, Australia, Reed Books.
11. ^ Hodgkinson, K. C. (1991). "Shrub recruitment response to intensity and season of fire in a semi-arid woodland." Journal of Applied Ecology 28: 60-70.
12. ^ Dyer, R., A. Craig, et al. (1997). Fire in northern pastoral lands. Fire in the management of northern Australian pastoral lands. T. C. Grice and S. M. Slatter. St. Lucia, Australia, Tropical Grassland Society of Australia.
13. ^ ^{a b c d e} World AgroForestry Centre

General references

Wikispecies has information related to:

Acacia aneura

• Acacia aneura. Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
• Acacia aneura. FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
• Mitchell, A. A. and Wilcox, D. G. (1994). Arid Shrubland Plants of Western Australia, Second and Enlarged Edition. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia. ISBN 187556022X. 

Image File history File links Wikispecies-logo. ... Wikispecies is a sister project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation that anybody can edit with a great potential use to students and researchers. ... The Flora of Australia Volume 1, second edition. ... The Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) is a department of the Australian federal government. ... FloraBase is a public access web-based database of the flora of Western Australia. ... The Department of Environment and Conservation is a department of the Government of Western Australia that is responsible for implementing the states conservation and environment policies. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ...

See also

• Acacia

Species About 1,300; see List of Acacia species Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1773. ...

External links

• Acacia aneura (ILDIS LegumeWeb)
• Acacia aneura Photos (FloraBase)
• Acacia aneura (Google Images)