Acacia MANGIUM - Brown salwood, Hickory wattle, Mangium wattle, Acacia mangium.
Can be grown in bonsai style!
Acacia is a large genus of flowering plants in the Fabaceae family. It grows predominantly in Australia, Africa, Mexico, and Asia. It frequently graces Central European conservatories and greenhouses. The scientific name of the genus derives from the Ancient Greek "akake" - the name for one of the thorny trees. Robinia ("black locust" or "white acacia") and Caragana ("yellow acacia") are also colloquially called acacias, although they belong to completely different genera within the legume family.
They are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres - between 35° North latitude and 42° South latitude. They grow under diverse ecological conditions - in the arid deserts of Mexico and Australia, in humid areas of India and Madagascar, typically in lowland regions, along river valleys on alluvial and rocky soils containing minimal lime, ascending into mountains up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. They often form pure stands.
Acacias rank among the fastest-growing tree species: in their first year of life they reach heights of 0.75-1.5 m (2.5-4.9 ft), in the second 2-2.5 m (6.6-8.2 ft), in the third up to 4-5 m (13-16 ft) with a trunk diameter of 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 in) at a height of 1 m (3.3 ft), and at 12-15 years of age 15-18 m (49-59 ft). Intensive growth of the trees ceases around 25-30 years; plants at 30 years are already senescing, their crown thins, bark cracks, and hollows appear. Most species form abundant basal shoots from the root collar and produce prolific root suckers beginning from the second or third year of life. Flowering commences in the first or more commonly second year of life and subsequently occurs regularly on an annual basis, as does fruiting.
Acacia mangium features lanceolate or ovate leaves with prominent venation that makes them handsome and the plant itself attractive even when not in flower, serving as a decorative foliage plant. Inflorescences are about 8 cm (3.1 in) long, composed of pale golden flowers. After flowering, coiled, woody pods are formed. The species is frost-sensitive. The plant is fast-growing. It can be cultivated in bonsai style.