Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Acacia tumida - Sicleleaf Wattle

Edible portion: Seeds, Gum

A medium sized shrub 3-8 m tall. It spreads 2-4 m across. The branches have white hairs. The bark can be silvery when young and turns red with age. The leaves (phyllodes) are large and light green. They are 10-15 (-23) cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They are thick and curved and covered with a bluish bloom and white silky hairs. There are veins running along the leaf. The flower heads are bright yellow and rod like. They are 2-4 (-7) cm long and 0.7 cm wide. They have a strong scent. The pods are 12-16 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. They are twisted and woody. They are round in cross section but raised over the seeds. They are fragile. The seeds are shiny dark brown. They are arranged lengthwise along the pod.

It occurs in northern Australia. It is often along stream banks. It needs a sunny position. The soil needs to be well drained. It benefits by watering in dry periods. It is grown in the Sahel in Africa. It can grow in arid places.