Ironweed tree, Desert Ironwood
It suits hot dry places. It does well in well drained light to medium soils. It prefers full sun. It occurs in central Australia. It is common near Alice Springs. It is very drought tolerant. It is easily killed by fire. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.
Also known as:
Athenge Tjau, Athiyimpa, Utjanypa
Edible Portion
- Seeds, Gum, Honeydew
Where does Ironweed tree grow?
Found in: Australia
Notes: There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.
Growing Ironweed tree, Desert Ironwood
Cultivation: It is grown from seed.
Edible Uses: The seeds are eaten. The gum is eaten. Lerp honeydew is also eaten.
Production: Young plants grow slowly, but grow rapidly when more established. Pods normally are produced in late autumn, and can remain on the tree for a long time. Because the pod clings to the seed, processing the seed is more difficult. But seed often remain after other acacia seed have gone. The red gum exuding from the tree is not edible but the white gum linked with boring insect damage is eaten.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | 357 | 28.9 | - | - | - | - | 10.1 |
| Gum | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Honeydew | - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
Boomsma, C.D., 1972, Native Tree of South Australia. Woods & Forests Department South Australia, Bulletin No.19. p 37
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 42, 188
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 75
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 47
Hall, N. et al, 1972, The Use of Trees and Shrubs in the Dry Country of Australia, AGPS, Canberra. p 345
Holliday, I., 1989, A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Hamlyn. p 18
Lang, P. J., et al, 1986, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Biological Survey. p 41, 44
Latz, P., 1996, Bushfires and Bushtucker. IAD. p 97
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 3
Lister, P.R., P. Holford, T. Haigh, and D.A. Morrison, 1996, Acacia in Australia: Ethnobotany and potential food crop. p. 228-236. In: J. Janick (ed.), Progress in new crops. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 307
Pennock, A., et al, Australian Dry-zone Acacias for Human Food: Proceedings of a Workshop.
S. Sci. Rec. 2:150. 1882
Smith, N. M., 1991, Ethnobotanical Field Notes from the Northern Territory, Australia, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 14(1): 1-65
Urban, A., 1990, Wildflowers of Inland Australia. Portside editions. p 78