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Evergreen foliage
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Acacia is popular for its evergreen trees, shrubs and climbers
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SHOWY FLOWERS Acacia
Belonging to the family Mimosaeae, Acacia is a large species of deciduous, evergreen tree, shrubs and climbers, cultivated mainly for their flowers and foliage.
They are found in tropical regions. Its place of origin is South America and South Africa.
The Leaves are alternate, two pinnate mostly lance shaped and entire. Tiny flowers, often sweetly scented with 4 to 5 minute petals and long stamens form either spherical heads quarter to half inches across in racemes or pinnacles, or are borne on short, cylindrical spikes measuring half an inch long.
They are produced in winter. These are followed by small seeds pod, green or flushed with red or purple.
Acacia deaurrens (Quren's black wattle) from Australia is a large spreading bush.
The compound leaves have numerous fern like segments of rich green leaves 3 inches and 60-80 linear leaflets. Round scented flowers like small fluffy balls are massed in large panicles 4-6 inches long.
Acacia baileyanna (Cotamendra wattle) is a small tree with spreading dense branches and fern like two pinnate, evergreen silvery grey leaves 2 inches long composed of 16-40 tiny linear leaflets, spherical bright yellow flower heads 1-1/4 inches across in dense axillary racemes that are 3-4 inches long in winter.
Acacia auriculatae from Australia is an ornamental evergreen tree valued in landscaping for its showy flowers. The tree is also valued for its timber.
Acacia farnesiana (Sweet acacia) is extensively grown for the oil that is extracted from its flowers. The oil is used in the manufacture of a perfume.
Propagation is by seeds or soft cutting. Acacia looks elegant when grown against a wall in the garden in a sheltered spot.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHANAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Pondicherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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