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ACACIA

Acacia spp.

Acacia spp. of the family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae) the legume, pea, or bean family

A NOTE ABOUT ACACIAS AND THE EUCALYPTS
For the genera Acacia and Eucalyptus I have broken my general rule for this site, which is that it is intended to show woods that are at least somewhat readily available to the North American woodworker. For these two genera, because of the plethora of different species samples loaned to me by David Clark, I have decided to put pics of all such up on the site even though most of the woods shown are quite obscure, particularly in North America. Other than being species in one of those two genera, the woods on this page do not necessarily have any relation to each other and may have significantly different characteristics.

I happen to have good pics of these samples and hated to just toss them out but they are of woods that are of little to no interest to North American wood craftspeople and other than these samples, I have little to no information on any of them.

My own wood name database shows over 400 Acacia species of woody plants and I'm confident that the list is incomplete, so there are a lot of species that could end up on this page. David Clark tells me there are over 900 Acacias in Australia and more spread around the world. The genus represents a huge range of species and I note that weights range from fairly light (e.g. koa) to really heavy with many of them being easily heavy enough, at roughly 70lbs/cuft, to sink in water even after seasoning.

There are a number of Acacia species that ARE on this site with pages of their own. These include:

NOTE: Several acacias have been moved to the genus Senegalia and some to the genus Vachellia, with the same specific epithet in all cases and with the Acacia name now considered as a synonym for the newer Senegalia or Vachellia name. BUT ... The Plant List (which I use) and other authorities either do not agree w/ this change or have not yet decided to accept it or simply have not yet gotten around to changing their information (after all, the change is only 10 years old). SO ... you will see both names in use. These include:

my samples:
NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K)
colors will vary under other lighting conditions


both sides of a sample plank of belyando blackwood / Acacia argyrodendron --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. At the bottom of this page there is another sample that is purportedly of this species, but it clearly is not.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of earleaf acacia / Acacia auriculiformis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of earleaf acacia / Acacia auriculiformis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of Bailey acacia / Acacia baileyana --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

v
both sides of a sample plank of huisache / Acacia farnesiana --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of huische / Acacia farnesiana --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of catclaw acacia / Acacia greggii --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of bowyakka / Acacia microsperma --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of dune thorn / Acacia kosiensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. I note that The Plant List has Acacia kosiensis as an "unresolved" name, which means that at some point it could well be reassigned as a synonym to a different existing name or it might become a recognized name.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of dune thorn / Acacia kosiensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. I note that The Plant List has Acacia kosiensis as an "unresolved" name, which means that at some point it could well be reassigned as a synonym to a different existing name or it might become a recognized name.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of monkey thorn / Acacia burkei --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. Based on the end grain, I have to say it's possible that this is NOT Acacia burkei. I have verified independently that the other Acacia burkei samples on this page have end grain characteristics that are exactly right but this piece doesn't look quite the same.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of monkey thorn / Acacia burkei --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of monkey thorn / Acacia burkei --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of monkey thorn / Acacia burkei --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of monkey thorn / Acacia galpinii --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of camel thorn / Acacia erioloba --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of katsim / Acacia gaumeri --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of fever tree / Acacia xanthophloea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of fever tree / Acacia xanthophloea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of nightcap wattle / Acacia orites --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of black wattle / Acacia concurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of black wattle / Acacia mearnsii --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of shittim / Acacia tortilis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of lancewood / Acacia shirleyi --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of lancewood / Acacia shirleyi --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of Indian acacia / Acacia catechu --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


BOTH FACES OF THIS SAMPLE HAVE A LIGHT COAT OF CLEAR PASTE WAX
both sides of a sample plank of silver wattle / Acacia dealbata --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


all four faces of a piece of blue wattle / Acacia dealbata


end grain, end grain closeup, and an END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above


BOTH FACES OF THIS SAMPLE HAVE A LIGHT COAT OF CLEAR PASTE WAX
both sides of a sample plank of weeping bortee / Acacia pendula --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of prickly moses / Acacia verticillata --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of river cooba / Acacia stenophylla --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of waddywood / Acacia peuce --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of babbar / Acacia nilotica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of Arabic gum / Acacia nilotica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of Arabic gum / Acacia nilotica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of Arabic gum / Acacia nilotica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of caven / Acacia caven --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of cola de lagarta / Acacia glomerosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of cinnecord / Acacia choriophylla --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. The red is a bit more vibrant in the pic than it really is in the wood.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of cinnecord / Acacia choriophylla --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. The red is a bit more vibrant in the pic than it really is in the wood.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a piece of Florida acacia / Acacia choriophylla --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. The "Acacia choriophylla" is an assumption, based on the fact that I can find only one Acacia that is called Florida acacia (which was the only designation Mark had on the piece). BUT ... the end grain characteristics are not a close match to the other Acacia choriophylla shown up above this.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of paperbark thorn / Acacia sieberiana --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a small plank of sweet acacia / Acacia farnesiana loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of huisache / Acacia farnesiana) --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of iron wattle / Acacia excelsa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of hickory wattle / Acacia implexa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of willow wattle / Acacia salicina --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of bendee / Acacia catenulata --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of long spine acacia / Acacia macracantha --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of long spine acacia / Acacia macracantha --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of long spine acacia (aka aromo) / Acacia huarango --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of wirewood / Acacia coreacea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of sickleleaf acacia / Acacia harpophylla --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of espino / Acacia pennatula --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of espino blanco / Acacia pennatula --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of subin / Acacia dolichostachya --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of subin / Acacia dolichostachya --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of subin / Acacia collinsii --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of whitebark acacia / Acacia leucophloea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of whitebark acacia / Acacia leucophloea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of koaia / Acacia koaia --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


I am doubtful that this even IS an acacia, although that is how the vendor had it labeled.



both sides of a sample plank of belyando blackwood / Acacia argyrodendron --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. NOTE based on the end grain update below, I am HIGHLY dubious that this sample is correctly identified. The pores are much smaller and much more numerous than on the other acacias and unlike the other acacias, there are no visible rays at 10X There is another sample of Acacia argyrodendron up above that I believe is correctly identified.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


The following two samples were found on a pallet from Viet Nam and sent to me for identification. After much research and discussion on the Wood Barter forum the owner actually ended up identifying it himself and I was able to confirm it after even more research and back and forth in the Wood Barter thread.

These turned out to be a plantation grown Vietnamese hybrid of Acacia mangium and Acacia Auriculiformis. Both parents are hard, heavy woods but the hybrid is specifically bred in Vietnam to be very fast growing and thus is much less dense, at about 29 lbs/cuft (which is what these pieces are), plus it is fairly coarse and is not likely to take a high polish they way the parents will. The end grain is a good match for Acacia Auriculiformis and an excellent match for Acacia mangium. Here's one of the research papers I used in making this verification: research paper

The wood is sometimes sold as just Acacia mangium so that's what I have listed it as even though that is not technically correct.


both sides of a sample plank of acacia hybrid / Acacia mangium --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


three faces of a small piece of acacia hybrid / Acacia mangium with the last one showing the pallet mark (VN = Viet Nam)


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


These pics are all of tamarin des hauts / Acacia heterophyll and were taken by Franck Cherubin whom I thank for the contribution to the site. This wood is a close relative of both koa / Acacia koa and Tasmanian blackwood / Acacia melanoxylon and the curly version, as seen in the guitar backs below, is quite similar to curly koa and curly Tasmanian blackwood. This species is native to Reunion Island, a small (roughly 30 miles x 30 miles) French held island in the Indian Ocean about 500 miles off the coast of Madagascar.


guitar back and side. These were photographed in sunlight and have a finish on the wood. Enlargements are present


A plank and a pair marked off for cutting as a guitar back.



web pics:


planks listed as acacia / Acacia mangium


some closeups from the three planks shown directly above


turning squares and closeup listed as Tasmanian acacia


slab and closeup listed as acacia


planks listed as Western black acacia


plank listed as black acacia


plank of myall / Acacia pendula


inland acacia / Acacia carnei


shoestring acacia / Acacia stenophylla log ends


bowls listed as just "acacia" and one listed as California black acacia


two views of a carved vase and closeup listed as just "acacia"


two views of a hollow form listed as silver wattle / Acacia dealbata


willow acacia turned/carved vase


black acacia guitar back


pics of a guitar made from a figured Reunion Island wood, tamarin des hauts / Acacia heterophylla, plus some planks that have been moistened for the pics. Pics contributed to the site by Franck Cherubin, with my thanks. Both levels of enlargement are present.