Tree identification manual - North East Downs Landcare Group

Blackwood, black wattle
Botanical name
Acacia melanoxylon
Areas
4
Distribution
The overall occurrence is from 200km north of Brisbane to the southeast of South Australia and to
Tasmania. The main distribution is on the tablelands and coastal escarpments in Eastern Australia.
Description
Height: Often 10-20m tall, but varies from a small mountain shrub to one of the largest acacias in Australia,
attaining heights of up to 35m.
Bark: Persistent to the small branches, hard, furrowed longitudinally and transversely, dark grey or brown.
Leaves: Glossy green and strap-like leaves, young leaves may be bronze coloured.
Inflorescence: Small yellow florets in open bunches.
Fruits: Thin stringy pods which ripen to a brown colour on the tree, they are often quite curly.
Distinctive features
Medium sized wattle often with a large rounded crown and a very short trunk.
Vegetation community
Often found in higher rainfall areas with Sydney blue gum, tallowwood and stringybark.
Associated soils
This species prefers valleys and small flats in hilly or mountainous country but is found on nearly all
topographical sites. It grows on a wide range of soils from sandy podzols to alluvials and clay loams.
Local example
Common around Cabarlah and Pechey. Good specimens can be found at Ravensbourne National Park.
NOTES: A tree with poor form in Queensland, but considered valuable for timber further south.
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