Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia: A Review of Species for Use in Semi-Arid Regions
By BR Maslin, LAJ Thomson, MW McDonald and S Hamilton-Brown
()
About this ebook
This book identifies 47 Acacia species which have potential for cultivation in the southern semi-arid region of Australia as a source of seed for human consumption.
Eighteen species are regarded as having the greatest potential. Botanical profiles are provided for these species, together with information on the natural distribution, ecology, phenology, growth characteristics and seed attributes.
Two species, Acacia victoriae and Acacia murrayana, appear particularly promising as the seeds of both these have good nutritional characteristics and were commonly used as food by Aborigines. Acacia victoriae is currently the most important wattle used in the Australian bushfood industry.
This book is a useful reference for the bush food industry.
Related to Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia
Related ebooks
Wildlife of the Otways and Shipwreck Coast Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGuide to Introduced Pest Animals of Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Rainforest Seeds: A Guide to Collecting, Processing and Propagation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide to Land Snails of Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Native Plants: The Kings Park Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerth Plants: A Field Guide to the Bushland and Coastal Flora of Kings Park and Bold Park Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBees of Australia: A Photographic Exploration Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Plants of Subtropical Eastern Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Dry-zone Acacias for Human Food Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCoastal Plants: A Guide to the Identification and Restoration of Plants of the Greater Perth Coast Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNature and Farming: Sustaining Native Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide to the Katydids of Australia Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pilbara Seed Atlas and Field Guide: Plant Restoration in Australia's Arid Northwest Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlanting for Wildlife: A Practical Guide to Restoring Native Woodlands Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Guide to Native Bees of Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTree Hollows and Wildlife Conservation in Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWildlife on Farms: How to Conserve Native Animals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide to Britain's Rarest Plants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDiscovering Australian Flora: An Australian National Botanic Gardens Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Rainforest Fruits: A Field Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Freshwater Fishes of the Eastern Himalayas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMistletoes of Southern Australia Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Plants of the Victorian High Country: A Field Guide for Walkers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGreen Harvest: A History of Organic Farming and Gardening in Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRocky Outcrops in Australia: Ecology, Conservation and Management Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Seeds: A Guide to Their Collection, Identification and Biology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWildlife Conservation in Farm Landscapes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide to Crickets of Australia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWoodlands: A Disappearing Landscape Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Nature For You
Lucky Dog Lessons: From Renowned Expert Dog Trainer and Host of Lucky Dog: Reunions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fantastic Fungi: How Mushrooms Can Heal, Shift Consciousness, and Save the Planet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Forager's Handbook: A Seasonal Guide to Harvesting Wild, Edible & Medicinal Plants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEncyclopedia of 5,000 Spells Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How To Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The God Delusion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Forest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Complete Kitchen Garden: An Inspired Collection of Garden Designs & 100 Seasonal Recipes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roxane Gay & Everand Originals: My Year of Psychedelics: Lessons on Better Living Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shelter: A Love Letter to Trees Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Practical Botany for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Botanical Terms Explained and Explored Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Coffee: A Sustainable Guide to Nootropics, Adaptogens, and Mushrooms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Edible Wild Plants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Fungi: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species from around the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Foraging for Survival: Edible Wild Plants of North America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related categories
Reviews for Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia - BR Maslin
EDIBLE WATTLE SEEDS
OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA
A REVIEW OF SPECIES
FOR USE IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS
B.R. Maslin, LAJ. Thomson, M.W. McDonald and S. Hamilton-Brown
Disclaimer
CSIRO and CALM disclaim liability for any loss, injury, damages and costs incurred by any persons as a result of using the information in this book.
More research must take place before plantings of any Acacia species for seed/human food production in southern Australia can be recommended. Of particular relevance in this regard is the need for comprehensive biochemical analyses, especially of possible anti-nutritional or toxic components. There is also a need to better understand the biology, ecology and silvicultural requirements of the species included here.
EDIBLE WATTLE SEEDS OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA
A REVIEW OF SPECIES FOR USE IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in the Publication entry:
Authors: B.R. Maslin¹, L.A.J. Thomson², M.W McDonald² and S. Hamilton-Brown¹
¹‘Department of Conservation and Land Management, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA, 6983.
Email brucem@calm.wa.gov.au
²CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, Australian Tree Seed Centre, PO Box E4008, Kingston, ACT 2604.
Email atsc@ffp.csiro.au
CONTENTS
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
The southern semi-arid region
General utilisation of temperate dry-zone acacias
Aboriginal use of temperate dry-zone Acacia seed
Nutritional value and toxicology of Acacia seed
Current use of Acacia seeds
Wild harvest or plantations?
Caveats on the use of Acacia seeds as a human food
Methods
Species selection
DETAILS OF THE MOST PROMISING SPECIES
Acacia murrayana F. Muell. ex Benth
Acacia victoriae Benth
DETAILS OF OTHER PROMISING SPECIES
Acacia jennerae Maiden
Acacia microbotrya Benth
Acacia pycnantha Benth
Acacia retinodes Schldl
Acacia rivalis J.M. Black
Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl
DETAILS OF LESSER-KNOWN SPECIES
Acacia anthochaera Maslin
Acacia blakelyi Maiden and A. scirpifolia Meisner
Acacia brumalis Maslin
Acacia calamifolia Sweet ex Lindley
Acacia confluens Maiden & Blakely
Acacia hakeoides Cunn. ex Benth
Acacia hemiteles Benth
Acacia prainii Maiden
Acacia subrigida Maslin
SEED AVAILABILITY FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
REFERENCES
TABLES
PREFACE
4 December 1997
This review is a further addition to the growing body of knowledge on the use of Australian Acacia seed for human consumption. Where much of the previous work has concentrated on tropical and subtropical species, this book covers temperate areas and provides information on a range of species from southern and central Australia.
It has provided another opportunity for close collaboration with Aboriginal people, and their traditional knowledge has been an important foundation for the work to date. This book adds information on the ecology, nutritional aspects, genetic variability and taxonomy to the knowledge base.
The review has also provided another opportunity to link skills in taxonomy and utilisation resident at CALM in Western Australia and the Australian Tree Seed Centre in Canberra, and to increase the information available for some less well known species. This book is a further demonstration of both organisations’ commitment to exploration of Australia’s rich botanical heritage.
Tim Vercoe
Officer in Charge
Australian Tree Seed Centre
CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are indebted to the Australian Aborigines who in sharing their traditional cultural heritage have facilitated the prospect of utilising wattle seed as a modern-day food source. The Australian Tree Seed Centre (CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products) and its staff, especially Mr Stephen Midgley, Dr Chris Harwood, Mr Doug Boland and Mr Jock Morse, are thanked for their support and input in the development of this review. Mr John Maslin is thanked for preparing the maps and Margaret Pieroni for most of the fine illustrations. Mr Peter Bindon (Western Australian Museum) is thanked for his invaluable assistance on some of the Aboriginal utilisation information. Mr Andrew Beale (Australian Native Produce Industries) and Mr Paul James (Gundabluey Bush Foods) supplied valuable information on the use of Acacia seed in the Australian food industry. Mr Pat Ryan (Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management) is thanked for comments on the utilisation of some Western Australia species. The Handbook Committee of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia, together with Murray Fagg, Norman Hall, Jo Kenrick and Martin O’Leary are thanked for providing slides of some species.
ABSTRACT
Based on reports of their utilisation as food by Aborigines and other salient features, this review has identified 47 Acacia species which have potential for cultivation in southern semi-arid region of Australia as a source of seed for human consumption. Relevant characteristics of these species are summarised in tabular form. For the 18 species regarded as having the greatest potential, brief botanical profiles are provided, together with information on their natural distribution, ecology, phenology, growth characteristics and seed attributes relevant to their use as a human food. The 47 species include representatives from most of the major taxonomic groups of Acacia that occur in the temperate dry-zone of Australia. The 18 best prospects all belong to section Phyllodineae.
Two species, A.victoriae and A.murrayana, appear particularly promising for production of human food in southern Australia. The seeds of both species have good nutritional characteristics and were commonly used as food by Aborigines. Wild populations have wide adaptability, grow rapidly and produce moderate to heavy seed crops in most years. Both species are easily propagated from seed and plantations can be established by direct seeding. Over-mature, declining stands may be regenerated by coppicing and/or shallow ripping to induce suckering. Acacia victoriae is currently the most important species of Acacia in the Australian bushfood industry.
Much more research must take place before plantations of any Acacia species for seed/human food production in southern Australia can be recommended. Comprehensive biochemical analyses, especially of possible anti-nutritional or toxic components, and taste appraisals of the seeds are required. There is also an important requirement for biosystematic studies of species with highest economic potential. Such information is fundamental to developing a better understanding of their biology (including weed potential), ecology and silvicultural requirements. Commercial considerations such as market size and long-term viability, and seed production costs, are essential ahead of any wide-scale planting of Acacia. These studies should be based on a sound taxonomy and comprehensive, well-documented seed collections.
INTRODUCTION
Acacia microbotrya
Photogragh: M. McDonald
The aims of this book are to review temperate dry-zone