Acacia tree: species, description, photo

The tree of acacia is well known all over the world, as it not only grows in most countries, but is also a symbol of some of them, as well as an object of many legends and works of art and literature.

The white or yellow clusters of this tree, popular in modern times, blossoming in May, in fact have a thousand-year history. The acacia was decorated with gardens and houses, used in medicine and religious rituals. Probably, there are no trees on the planet that are more revered for many centuries by representatives of different civilizations and cultures than the acacia. The photo can not convey all the beauty and aroma of this plant, which today has more than 800 species.

History of the Acacia

The uniqueness of this tree was noticed by the ancient Egyptians who believed that it simultaneously symbolizes both life and death, as it blooms with white and red flowers. It was for them a symbol of the sun god, reviving life. In his kronah lived the goddess of war and hunting Nate.

In many cultures, the acacia tree symbolized purity and purity, and the ancient inhabitants of the Mediterranean believed that its thorns drove away evil spirits, and adorned their houses with broken branches. And the nomads who traveled the Arabian desert considered it sacred and believed that the one who broke the branch of this tree will die within a year.

Acacia, the description of which is found in the Torah, was for the ancient Jews a symbol of holiness. So from her wood were made the ship of Noah, the altar of the Judean Temple and the Tabernacle, in which the Ark of the Covenant was originally kept .

For the Christians of the Middle Ages, this tree symbolized the purity of thoughts and innocence, so its branches were adorned with houses. Acacia oil was used in rituals by various secret societies, and priests oiled them with the altar and censers.

Places of growth

Acacia tree belongs to the family of legumes and can reach 25-30 meters in height. The native land of the plant is considered to be North America, although the majority of its species grow in the tropical and subtropical forests of Africa, Asia, Mexico and Australia.

Depending on the place, this plant can represent both trees and tree-like bushes. Cultivate it in the countries of Europe have become since the 18th century because of medicinal properties, beauty and strong wood. Today in many cities of Russia and the CIS one can see its most widespread species - robinia, which is known as the white acacia. The tree is able to withstand minus temperatures as well as the silvery acacia, better known as mimosa. This white acacia grows exclusively in the tropical forests of Africa.

Description of the species

Regardless of where the plant grows, the acacia has features common to the whole family:

• She has a strong root system, which extends the main root to a greater depth and has a branch closer to the soil surface. This helps the plant to extract not only water, but also useful microelements.
• The stem can reach a height of 12 to 30 meters with a girth of 1.2-2 m. The color of the bark varies from light gray at a young age and to a brownish shade as it grows, and the structure has a surface with longitudinal beards.
• Most acacias are distinguished by ovoid leaves, collected on a long petiole alternately from 7 to 21 pieces. The outer part of the leaf has a green tint, while the inner part can be silvery or greyish-green. The presence of spines is also inherent in most representatives of this species, although specimens are found in which they are completely absent.
• Acacia (the photo shows it) has large flowers of white or yellow color, collected in clusters, although there are small inflorescences in the form of panicles and even single buds.

• The fruit of the tree is a pod of brown color, containing 5-6 beans. They are well known for their medicinal properties and are widely used in homeopathy.

These are the features characteristic of most representatives of this species, although there are exceptions.

Acacia corkscrew

This is the most common tree in urban parks and on the streets. Acacia, although it usually grows fast enough, grows up to an average speed of 40 years.

At a height of 20 m and a width of 1.2 m, it has an asymmetrical crown and white flowers with a pleasant aroma hanging down to 20 cm in length. Often acacia corkscrew can have two trunks, blooms from the end of May to the beginning of June, it is not exacting for leaving, well tolerates arid summer. The leaves of the elliptical form have a bluish-green hue in the summer and bright yellow in the autumn. Appear late, almost simultaneously with flowers.

Acacia golden

Small, only up to 12 m in height, these trees immediately noticeable. Acacia golden (Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia) has several trunks and beautiful light yellow-colored leaves of elliptical shape. On twisted, zigzag-like prickly branches, foliage appears late, almost before flowering itself: in late May - early June.

For the first time this tree was discovered in Holland in 1935. Blossoms with white fragrant inflorescences up to 20 cm in length, the fruit is brown and flat. Leaves odd-pinnate and regular from 7 to 19 pieces on the petiole.

This acacia is not demanding to care, although it prefers humus dry soil. In wet and heavy ground can suffer from frost and die.

Acacia conical and umbellate

One of the old-timers among the trees of this species is the cone-shaped acacia (Pseudoacacia Bessoniana). It lives to 100 years and grows up to 20 meters in height, forming offspring. Often has several trunks.

Foliage openwork is odd-pinned, the crown can be as asymmetrical, and free, round. Blooms not densely, with white fragrant brushes up to 20 cm in length. On the petioles, 7 to 19 elliptical leaves bluish-green in color. Forms fruits up to 12 cm in length, in the form of flat brown beans. This acacia is very fond of the sun and perfectly tolerates drought, it is not whimsical to the soil. If you plant a tree in the garden, you should avoid heavy and wet soil. In frosts in such soil, the roots of acacia can be severely affected.

Acacia is an umbrella found in Africa and in the deserts of Israel. On a hot continent, it lives in savannahs and is loved by all its inhabitants, as it gives a shadow, thanks to its crown, which looks like an umbrella. In fact, this is a symbolic protection against the scorching rays of the sun, because its leaves are turned with an edge towards the luminary.

The tree has large sharp spines that protect it from the numerous herbivores inhabiting the savannah. Blossoms very small flowers with long stamens, collected in a whisk. There are yellow or white colors.

According to legend, it was from the umbrella acacia that the Jews, who had left Egypt, made Noah's Ark.

Acacia street

Most often in specialized stores there is a street acacia, the seedlings of which are sold in flower pots.

Pseudoacacia Monophylla is weakly susceptible to environmental pollution, it is a fast-growing and non-woody species of trees, reaching 25 m in height. The leaves of this acacia are odd-pinnate and alternating: at the beginning of the petiole are of small size, but closer to the end they can reach 15 cm in length. The color of foliage is matte green in summer and yellow in autumn. It should be remembered that the leaves are very poisonous.

The branches can be zigzag-shaped or horizontal, slightly elevated. Flowers large white flowers, collected in clusters up to 20 cm in length with a pleasant aroma. This tree loves the sun and is not picky about the composition of the soil.

Acacia bristle

This name refers both to a tree-like shrub that reaches a height of more than 2 meters, and to a tree, which, depending on the area of growth, can reach from 15 to 20 m. The powerful root system and strong prickly zigzag branches make the plant windproof. Blossom these types of acacia beautiful large flowers of purple or pink color without flavor, collected in inflorescences of 3-6 pieces.

The name of the plant is due to the fact that its shoots are covered with reddish bristles. The leaves are painted in a dark green color in spring and summer, in a yellow tint - in the autumn. If such acacia grows in the garden, it attracts attention with its large and bright colors.

Does not require additional care, prefers a quiet and sunny place, easily tolerates arid summer. Even poor soil suits it.

Acacia pink

Robinia viscoa Vent., As it is also called, the pink acacia native to the southeast of North America, is also cultivated in Ukraine. The tree can reach from 7 to 12 m in height, but the life expectancy is small.

The bark of the brown shade is smooth, on the branches there may be small spines. The shoots of the tree are covered with a sticky mass, which gave him that name. Acacia pink blooms large, up to 2-3 cm in length, colors without odor. They are collected in upright brushes of 6-12 pieces and are also covered with sticky hairs that attract bees. The tree is an excellent honeycomb and a pollen tree.

Suitable for those gardeners who prefer to grow plants in the garden with a long flowering, since there are 4-5 flowering waves lasting until mid-September, this type of acacia. The leaves of this tree are large, up to 20 cm in length. On top of bright green, from below grayish, they are collected on a petiole in an amount of 13 to 25 pieces.

Wood unpretentious, frost-resistant (withstands up to -28 degrees), can grow on any soils.

Acacia silvery

Well-known to all post-Soviet women mimosa, this is the silvery acacia, which is home to Australia and the island of Tasmania.

This evergreen tree can reach 45 m in its native land, but in other countries it does not exceed 12 meters. Its trunk has a light gray or brown shade with vertical cracks, from which the gum escapes.

The leaves are greyish-green, pinnately divided twice, they alternate on the petiole and reach from 10 cm to 20 cm in length. The flowers are very small, in the form of yellowish marbles, collected in racemose inflorescences, from which panicles are formed. They have a very strong and pleasant aroma.

Acacia seeds are silvery flat and solid, can be matte or slightly shiny black.

Acacia white

Robinia, or a false acacia (Robinia pseudacacia L.) is well established on the European continent and is familiar to many of its inhabitants. Its white flowers emit a very strong and pleasant aroma, attracting not only people, but also bees.

This tree lives on average from 30 to 40 years old, has a brownish bark, a sprawling crown with green odd-numbered leaves. Fruits of acacia white ripen in September-October and fall only next spring.

Acacia in medicine

The chemical composition of the acacia bark and its effect on the body have not yet been fully studied, but even today decoctions from it are recommended not only by folk healers, but also by official medicine. Since the bark, flowers and fruits of this plant are often poisonous, they can be used only after consulting a doctor and in the recommended doses.