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February 22, 2006 : Acacia baileyana
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Keywords: Fabaceae | Acacia baileyana F. Muell. | 34883-0656-1999
Brent Hine, curator of the Alpine Garden, constantly experiments with plants thought not to be hardy in the local climate. This approach yields many surprises, but can also lead to a bit of sadness. In the early winter of 2003, it became apparent that this Cootamundra wattle was going to flower prolifically. And flower it did (specimen shot); everyone at the garden talked about this beauty. Fast forward one year to early January 2004, when a night with temperatures dipping to -12.8°C hits. This plant, soon to have masses of flowers again, did not survive. I recall quite a few disappointed faces.
Australia contains nearly one thousand species of Acacia and is the centre of diversity for this genus of about 1350 species. The wattles are emblematic of the country, so you can imagine the concern from Australian botanists when molecular studies suggested that the genus ought to be split up into a number of segregate genera. As proposed, this would have resulted in the majority of Acacia in Australia being transferred into, and forming much (or all?) of, the genus Racosperma. The genus name Acacia would only be retained by those species closely related to the first species to be described under that name (the type species), the African Acacia nilotica (syn. Acacia scorpoides), meaning a reduction in the number of species in Acacia worldwide to 161 species, with only 7 in northern Australia.
To prevent this, a formal proposal was made to the Committee for Spermatophyta under the rules of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature to switch the type species for the genus to one of the species that would have been transferred to the genus Racosperma – Acacia penninervis. By switching the species which the genus name is based on, the name Acacia would be associated with that particular species and its closest relatives (most of the nearly one thousand Australian species). This proposal was ratified in July of 2005.
If you'd like to read more, here are a few links: The name Acacia retained for Australian species via the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research; Wattle become of Acacia? from World Wide Wattle; and Orchard, A.E. and Maslin, B.R. 2003. Proposal to conserve the name Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) with a conserved type. Taxon. 52(2): 362-363.
Botany / art resource link: A real treat today: the Members' Gallery of the American Society of Botanical Artists shares examples of the creations of approximately two hundred botanical artists in North America. A few of the artists have UBC Botanical Garden connections: Lyn Noble is a UBC Friend of the Garden, Vicki Earle has taught courses here at the garden (I took her botanical drawing class) and Vanessa Pasqualetto is a former technician (we shared an office). I hope I didn't miss anyone else on the list with UBC connections, but I'm sure someone will correct me, if so.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at February 22, 2006 12:00 AM
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Posted by: Beverley at February 22, 2006 12:08 AM
NPR (www.npr.org) has an interesting series of 3 program about Tibetan medicinal plants this week. It is a radio expedition program co- sponsored by the National Geographic Magazine. Today's program featured the snow lotus, Saussurea laniceps, favors steep, unstable scree slopes well above 12,000 feet. Could you include some of the plants in future photos?
Posted by: Brian Kramer at February 22, 2006 7:44 AM
Your choice of photo is very timely. Acacia is widespread in the SF Bay Area, and they are in full bloom right now, just like your photo. Unfortunately, many might say, because allergies to acacia pollen are very common. Ahhhhhh CHOO!
Posted by: katherine at February 22, 2006 10:35 AM
Acacia baileyana, as well as Acacia decurrens and Acacia melanoxylon (all from Austrialia) are very invasive in the Monterey Bay area of California. They are spreading into the riparian and Monterey pine forest areas, displacing native species. They are very evident this time of year while they are full of beautiful yellow flowers. Just because a plant is pretty, doesn't mean it should be planted all over.... or it may "escape"....
Posted by: Dale Hameister at February 24, 2006 4:33 PM
Agreed, Dale.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at February 24, 2006 4:38 PM
I am trying to find out if acacia baileyana "mimosa" are male or female?- I have a couple of trees- one has seed pods and the other doesn't. Thank you for your help.
Posted by: Phyllis at August 28, 2006 8:14 AM
I'm fairly certain our single plant at UBC produced seeds. This would mean that the flowers (on our previous plant) were hermaphroditic and the individual plant was monoclinous. It is possible, though I can find no mention of it, that the species shows androdioecy. See Wikipedia for more on plant sexuality.
It could also just be that the second tree isn't yet mature enough to bear fruit.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at August 30, 2006 11:50 AM
I am growing the acacia baileyana in Tokyo Japan, and in four years it has never flowered. It was purchased as quite a mature tree, and has prolific leaf growth which is pruned back in height at least twice a year because of the problems of space in Tokyo, but the mystery of the flowers remains.
Posted by: Iona at November 24, 2006 3:41 PM
Preciso de sementes de Acacia Baileyana
Brasil
Posted by: Adelmo Cabral at February 20, 2007 2:55 AM
I am doing some research on the San Diego area. I have some vidoe footage of a tree that looks like an Acacia. Do they grow in this area (Escondido, Ca)? Thanks for anyone's input.
Posted by: Barry Cameron at June 6, 2007 7:12 PM
Barry, absolutely.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at June 7, 2007 9:49 AM
Barry,
I live in Poway (just south of Escondido) and love the acacias that grow in this area! I believe several different forms do well here -- in fact, I've noticed some are hard to get rid of. One lot that had several acacias was bulldozed, and the next year new acacias were sprouting everywhere. They became a gorgeous yellow forest in the spring. Unfortunately in my eyes, that spot is now covered with houses.
Janet
Posted by: Janet A. at June 9, 2007 11:26 AM
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Acacia baileyana - Z8 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Acacia baileyana - Z10-11 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk