Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth., Fabaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 13 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: da ye xiang si

English: Darwin black wattle, Papuan wattle, auri, black wattle, earleaf acacia, earpod wattle, northern black wattle, tan wattle

French: acacia auriculé

Maori (Cook Islands): ākasia

Pohnpeian: tuhkehn pwelmwahu

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Trees, evergreen, to 20 m tall. Bark gray-white, smooth. Branches pendulous; branchlets angular, glabrous, with conspicuous lenticels. Phyllodes falcate-oblong, 10-20 x 1.5-4 (-6) cm, conspicuous main veins 3 or 4, both ends attenuate. Spikes 1 to several, fasciculate, axillary or terminal, 3.5-8 cm. Flowers orange-yellow. Calyx 0.5-1 mm, shallowly dentate. Petals oblong, 1.5-2 mm. Filaments 2.5-4 mm. Ovary densely puberulent. Legume contorted when mature, 5-8 x 0.8-1.2 cm, valves woody. Seeds ca. 12, black, ca. 5 x 3.5 mm"  (Flora of China online).

Habitat/ecology:  A commonly planted forestry tree. Can become naturalized where planted. An environmental pest in southern Florida (Hammer, 1996; p. 24)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, eastern Indonesia (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 13) Not common.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 32) Not common.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane (2000) (p. 22)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.) Sparingly naturalized.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 15) Voucher: Flynn 7044 (PTBG, BISH, US) Naturalized.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 367) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 63)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Fefan Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (pp. 6, 25)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Tol Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (pp. 6, 25)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (pp. 6, 25)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90) "Potential invader"
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 27)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 16) Voucher cited: Lorence 7876 (PTBG)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Josekutty, P. C./Wakuk, E. E./Joseph, M. J. (2002) (p. 62)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 649171) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1996) (voucher ID: PTBG 21082) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis Cunn. ex Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90) "Potential invader"
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.) Sparingly naturalized.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 87) Vouchers cited: M.J. Balick 3943 (NY, PTBG), D.H. Lorence 8101 (MO, NY, PTBG, US) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1998) (voucher ID: PTBG 34629) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 28679) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis Cunn. ex Benth.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90) "Potential invader"
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.) Sparingly naturalized.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 33)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 659658) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2007) (pp. 9-10) Voucher cited: A. Lau & D. Frohlich s.n. 0611292 (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 108)
New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) New Guinea Island	New Guinea Island	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
Palau Hatohobei Group	Tobi Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 95)
Palau Kayangel Atoll	Kayangel Islet	introduced invasive	Miles, Joel (2015) (p. 2) ref cites other taxa as "Cultivated," but not this one, so implication is that this taxon was found in a non-cultivated situation (PT@PhilipT.com/20170602)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 88)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Angaur (Ngeaur) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 18)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 84)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 18) Some spreading noted in open areas and on mineral soil. Voucher: Lorence 9893 (PTBG, BNM, BISH, NY, US)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1997) (voucher ID: BISH 697860) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1997) (voucher ID: BISH 697861) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1997) (voucher ID: BISH 697873) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (2007) (voucher ID: BNM 4423) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1991) (voucher ID: BNM 9430) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 186) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2007) (voucher ID: PTBG 48185) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 89)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 18)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1989) (voucher ID: BISH 634812) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngercheu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 92) Carp Resort
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 17, 90)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 12) Voucher: Flynn 6962 (PTBG, B, US, SAMOA)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 41460) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 12)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Guadalcanal Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 508808) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 43)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 70)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang".
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 129)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	West Papua Province (Indonesia) (western New Guinea Island) (formerly Irian Jaya)		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1972) (voucher ID: PTBG 45949) Taxon name on voucher: Acacia auriculiformis
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Pallawatta, Nirmalie/Reaser, Jamie K./Gutierrez, Alixis T./eds. (2003) (p. 89)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 9) Naturalised
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 102)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Anjouan (Nzwani) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Mohéli (Mwali) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Rodrigues Island	introduced	ILDIS Co-ordinating Centre (2013)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 6)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Little natural regeneration of this species seen in Micronesia (Space & Falanru, 1999). Some naturalization noted, mostly on bare soil, on Mangaia, Cook Islands (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Observed on the Chuuk islands of Weno, Tol and Fefan; probably present on other islands as well (Space et al., 2000).

Planting of this species is prohibited in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S.) (Hunsberger, 2001).

From "Notes on the Flora of Niue," apparently RE: a previously-reported record: "Acacia auriculiformis, if correctly identified, is an Australian species (the specimen, which the author has examined, has a later annotation identifying it as A. cunninghamii Hook., another Australian species; contrary to St. John's note that the specimen is sterile, it is fertile)." (Whistler 1984, p. 566)

Control: 

Physical: Girdle, pull seedlings.

Chemical: Triclopyr herbicide mixed with an oil diluent (Randall et al., 1996; p. 24)