Wattle, Black Wattle, Mimosa (common names for various Acacia species). Scientific Name: Acacia mearnsii (Black Wattle), Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle).

Description: - Fast-growing, deciduous trees. - Typically have a dense, feathery appearance with bright yellow flowers. - Leaves are bipinnate, often with a silver-green color.

Origin: - Native to Australia, introduced to Eswatini for industrial purposes. - Widely planted in Eswatini, especially in the lowveld and highveld areas for commercial purposes.

Location: - Grown extensively in plantations throughout Eswatini, especially in the lowveld and middleveld regions.

Conservation Status:

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Family:

Species IUCN Status:

Species Description:

Associated Heritage Sites:

General Uses:

- Primarily used in the tannin industry for making leather. - Wood is used for firewood and charcoal production. - Leaves are used as animal fodder. - Flowers are sometimes used to make herbal teas.

Benefits:

- Fast-growing and provides quick ground cover, helping to prevent soil erosion. - Wood is used in the tannin extraction industry, making it economically valuable. - Leaves and flowers provide fodder for livestock. - Can be planted for reforestation and habitat restoration.

Challenges:

- Invasive species in Eswatini, leading to loss of biodiversity. - Depletes water tables due to extensive root systems. - Needs management to prevent it from spreading into natural habitats.

Medical Benefits:

- Bark and leaves have been traditionally used for treating coughs and colds. - Extracts are sometimes used in traditional medicine to treat digestive issues.

Cultural Significance:

- Not deeply entrenched in local Swazi culture; primarily valued for its economic uses rather than cultural or spiritual significance.

Ecological Role:

- Provides rapid ground cover and helps in soil stabilization. - Roots can lower water tables due to their extensive root systems. - Not beneficial to native biodiversity; can outcompete native plants.

Threats and Conservation Efforts:

- Threats: Competition with native flora, water depletion, and spreading into natural habitats. - Conservation efforts include mechanical removal, biological control, and reforestation with non-invasive species.

Myths:

- Little to no folklore or traditional stories are associated with Wattle in Eswatini, as it is largely seen as an introduced, industrial species.