Edible Plants of the World

Murray’s wattle, Colony wattle

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in arid and desert areas in Western Australia. It grows in sandhill country. It requires a sunny position. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in hot places. It can survive fires. It can grow in arid places.

Also known as:

Colony wattle, Sandplain wattle, Tjuntjula, Utjanypa

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Murray’s wattle grow?

Found in: Australia

Notes: There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Seeds 20% protein, 5 % fat and 64% carbohydrate. Also as Mimosaceae.

Growing Murray’s wattle, Colony wattle

Cultivation: It is grown from seed. It can be pruned after flowering.

Edible Uses: The seeds are softened by soaking in water, pounded to a paste then eaten raw. They can also be eaten green after roasting in the pod. An edible grub occurs in the roots and branches. The white gum is eaten. The mature seeds have also been roasted and ground as a coffee substitute.

Production: The edible insect larvae (Bardie grub) is pulled out of the bored holes using a hooked twig. The white gum normally exudes from sites of insect damage.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Seed 343 20.1 6.6 - - 3.7 8.1
Gum - - - - - -

References

Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 24

Bonney, N., 1997, Economic Native Trees and Shrubs for South Australia. Greening Australia (SA) inc. Campbelltown SA 5074 p 12

Cancilla, D., 2018, Ethnobotanical and Ethnozoological Values Desktop Assessment - Eliwana Project. p 39

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

Doran, J.C., & Turnbull, J.W. (Eds), 1997, Australian Trees and Shrubs: species for land rehabilitation and farm plantings in the tropics. ACIAR Monograph No 24. p 190

Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 87

Fl. austral. 2:370. 1864

Flora of Australia Volume 11A, Mimosaceae, Acacia part 1. Melbourne: ABRS/CSIRO, 2001, p 32

Goddard, C. & Kalotas A. (Eds.), Punu, 2002, Yankunytjatjara plant use. Jukurrpa books. p 52

House, A.P.N. & Harwood, C.E. ed., 1992, Australian dry-zone acacias for human food. East Melbourne:CSIRO Publications 145pp

Lang, P. J., et al, 1986, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Biological Survey. p 41, 44

Latz, P., 1996, Bushfires and Bushtucker. IAD. p 110

Latz, P & Wightman, G., 1995, Desert Bush Tucker Identikit. Common Native Food Plants of Central Australia. Parks & Wild Commission Northern territory. p 10

Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 5

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.

Miers, G., 2004, Cultivation and sustainable wild harvest of Bushfoods by Aboriginal Communities in Central Australia. RIRDC report W03/124 p 19

Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 316

Pennock, A., et al, Australian Dry-zone Acacias for Human Food: Proceedings of a Workshop.

World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew