Acacia melanoxylon R.Br.
Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) is a long-lived, evergreen tree that is native to eastern Australia and Tasmania. It was introduced to New Zealand for forestry, shelter and as an ornamental tree and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1918. The tree grows up to about 30 metres tall and has dark, furrowed bark and leathery, sickle-shaped phyllodes. Young plants have finely divided leaves before developing phyllodes as they mature. It flowers from August to October, producing pale yellow to cream, ball-shaped flower heads, which develop into flat, twisted seed pods. It tolerates frost, drought and a range of soil types. It reproduces by seed. Seeds are dispersed by gravity, water, ants and human activities. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years and germinate readily following disturbance or fire.
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