Edible Plants of the World

Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush

Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush

It is a tropical plant. This tree occurs naturally in Australia, Asia and Africa. It will grow on most soils. It is drought and frost resistant. It most commonly grows naturally on clay soils. In Papua New Guinea the plants are coastal below 60 m altitude. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 400-4,000 mm. It can grow in acid or alkaline soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Also known as:

Akasia manis, Ari velam, Bairithai, Baiy goanbili, Cassie flower, Cassie-oil plant, Debena, Fragrant acacia, Gandh babool, Gandharii, Gandhio babul, Gandila bamura, Gaya babul, Gnadhelo babul, Grabur, Huisache, Jait, Kadi vel, Kaipakoa, Kankar, Kapur, Kasturi tuma, Keo thom, Khanghu, Krathin-tet, Mawk-nawn-hkam, Mawurr, Nan-long-kyaing, Nkampi-chibe, Opopanax, Perfumed wattle, Popinac, Sambour meas, Scented babool, Scented Wattle, Semak jarum, Sponge flower, Sponge tree, Sweet acacia, Sweet Mimosa Bush, Tarwa kadam, Te kaibakoa, Tsorofotra, Vilayati kikar, West Indian Blackthorn, Zongta te

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Sweet acacia grow?

Found in: Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, America, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canary Islands, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, French Guiana, Guianas, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Martinique, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Monserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, PNG, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. This one can become invasive. Also as Mimosaceae.

Status: It is eaten in Australia but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. Fruit are sold in local markets.

Growing Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush

Cultivation: It is grown from seed. They can also be grown from shoots near the base.

Edible Uses: The green seed are eaten. The young pods have been recorded as eaten after cooking. They are also made into chutney with dried fish. The gum is eaten. The ground up seeds are eaten. The germinated seeds are claimed to be eaten. The gum is used to prepare sweets. The young leaves are used in India as a substitute for tamarind in chutneys.

Production: It is fast growing. Flowering can occur almost continuously if watering is regular. In northern Australia flowering is normally May to July with pods from September to November.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Seed - dry 364 36.6 6 - - 0.6 8.1
Gum - - - - - -
Leaves - spice - - - - - -
Seed - young - - - - - -
Pods - - - - - -
Sprouts - - - - - -

Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush Photos

Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush Sweet acacia, Prickly Moses, Mimosa bush

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