Acacia excelsa Benth.

Growth Form

Acacia excelsa Benth. is most often a tree that typically grows to a maximum height of 20 m (66 ft), and sometimes it grows as a shrub reaching 3 m (9.8 ft) in height. It often has a weeping growth habit.

Bark and Branchlets

The bark is hard, dark grey, and fissured, and its branchlets are glabrous.

Phyllode Shape

Its phyllodes are narrowly elliptic, straight to curved downward, and glabrous.

Phyllode Size and Venation

Most phyllodes are 40–65 mm (1.6–2.6 in) long and 3–16 mm (0.12–0.63 in) wide, with three to seven subprominent veins on each side.

Inflorescence Position

Flowers grow in spherical heads positioned in leaf axils, on peduncles 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long.

Flower Head Characteristics

Each flower head is 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) in diameter and holds 25 to 35 creamy-white to pale or bright yellow flowers.

Flowering Period

Flowering occurs from March to June.

Seed Pod Characteristics

The seed pods are linear and flat, growing up to 110 mm (4.3 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) wide, and break apart into one-seeded segments.

Seed Characteristics

The seeds are broadly elliptic, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, dull brown, and lack an aril.

Overall Species Distribution

This species has a wide but scattered distribution across inland southern Queensland, extending into northern and central New South Wales.

New South Wales Distribution

In New South Wales, it occurs as far south as Condbolin and as far east as Warialda.

Habitat

It grows in sandy loam soils, as a component of open woodland or savannah grassland plant communities.

Subspecies angusta Distribution

Subspecies angusta has a wide scattered distribution from south of Mount Isa to the northwest plains of northern New South Wales, mostly along the western edge of the range of subsp. excelsa.

Subspecies excelsa Distribution

Subspecies excelsa occurs mainly south of 20°S in Queensland, extending to the Condobolin area of central New South Wales.

Bark Properties

Like all Acacia species, the bark of A. excelsa contains appreciable amounts of tannins and is astringent.

Bark Medicinal Uses

It can be used for medical purposes: when used internally it treats diarrhoea and dysentery, and when used externally it treats wounds, haemorrhoids, and some eye problems.

Gum Uses

The stems of these trees produce gum that is also taken internally to treat haemorrhoids and diarrhoea.

Wood Properties

The wood of A. excelsa is close-grained, very tough, hard, and elastic, making it suitable for cabinet work and instrument fretboards.

Indigenous Wood Uses

Indigenous Australian peoples used this wood to make boomerangs and spearthrowers.