Acacia confusa

Acacia confusa seeds

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Acacieae
Genus: Acacia
Species: Acacia confusa
Name

Acacia confusa, Merr., 1910
Synonyms

Racosperma confusum (Merr.) Pedley

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
Acacia confusa

Continental: Asia-Tropical
Regional: Malesia
Borneo, Malaya, Philippines, Sumatera, Taiwan
Introduced into:
China South-Central, China Southeast, Dominican Republic, Hainan, India, Marianas, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Ogasawara-shoto, Seychelles, Vietnam

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Merrill, E.D. 1910. The Philippine Journal of Science, C 5: 27.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Acacia confusa in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Jul 29. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Acacia confusa. Published online. Accessed: Jul 29 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Acacia confusa. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul 29.
Hassler, M. Jul. Acacia confusa. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. Jul. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: Jul 29 {{{3}}}. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Acacia confusa in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
English: Acacia Petit Feuille, Mimosa
русский: Акация смешанная Tiếng Việt:
Tiếng Việt: Keo tương tư
中文: 台灣相思

Acacia confusa is a perennial tree native to South-East Asia. Some common names for it are acacia petit feuille, small Philippine acacia, Formosa acacia (Taiwan acacia) and Formosan koa. It grows to a height of 15 m. The tree has become very common in many tropical Pacific areas, including Hawaii, where the species is considered invasive.[3]

Uses

The wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm3.[4] In Taiwan, its wood was used to make support beams for underground mines. Acacia confusa is challenging to work and for this reason was traditionally burned as firewood or turned into charcoal in Taiwan. In later years it was exported to China to be made into wood flooring for the American market. At its height Taiwan exported more than 1,000 containers of Taiwan acacia to China. More recently it has been used domestically to produce high value wood products like musical instruments, furniture, and bathtubs.[5]

The wood is also converted to charcoal for family use. The plant is used in traditional medicine[6] and is available from herbal medicine shops (草藥店) in Taiwan, but there has been no clinical study to support its effectiveness.
Acacia confusa habit
Acacia confusa leaves and pods
Acacia confusa seeds
Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals found in Acacia confusa:
Root bark

N-Methyltryptamine, 1.43%[7][failed verification]
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, 1.15%[7][failed verification]

Seeds

Oxalyldiaminopropionic acid (α-amino-β-oxalylaminopropionic acid),[8] which can cause neurological damage, paralysis, and death.

Stems

N-Methyltryptamine, 0.04%[7]

Varieties

Acacia confusa var. inamurai Hayata

See also

List of Acacia species
Forestry in Taiwan

References

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Acacia confusa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T18435782A145823048. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T18435782A145823048.en. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
"ILDIS LegumeWeb (version 10)". www.ildis.org. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
"Acacia confusa risk assessment". www.hear.org. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
"Appendix 1 - List of wood densities for tree species from tropical America, Africa, and Asia". www.fao.org. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
"Taiwan Acacia's Commercial Evolution". topics.amcham.com.tw. Taiwan Topics. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
Li, Thomas S. C. Taiwanese Native Medicinal Plants: Phytopharmacology and Therapeutic Values, CRC Press (2006), ISBN 0-8493-9249-7, p.2. online GoogleBooks preview
Arthur, HR; Loo, SN; Lamberton, JA (1967). "Nb-Methylated tryptamines and other constituents of Acacia confusa Merr. Of Hong Kong". Australian Journal of Chemistry. 20 (4): 811. doi:10.1071/CH9670811.
Quereshi, M.Yasin; Pilbeam, David J.; Evans, Christine S.; Bell, E.Arthur (1977). "The neurolathyrogen, α-amino-β-oxalylaminopropionic acid in legume seeds". Phytochemistry. 16 (4): 477. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94332-2.