Hickory Wattle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black-wattle
• brown-salwood
• Black Wattle
• Brown Salwood
• Hickory Wattle
• Sabah salwood
• broadleaf salwood
• northern wattle
• sally wattle
• Mangium
• Big-leaved Acacia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Racosperma mangium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Acacia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several continents and regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Guinea. It can also be found within West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Cameroon and the DR Congo. Moving toward the Western Indian Ocean, the species is distributed within the Comoros. Finally, its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, where it is located in Bangladesh.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Acacia mangium is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, allowing it to colonize diverse landscapes. It thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, with an elevational range spanning from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 1450 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution enables the species to inhabit various ecological zones, from lowland tropical regions to higher-altitude montane environments. The plant is highly resilient to varying soil types and can tolerate both nutrient-poor and disturbed sites, often acting as a pioneer species that facilitates ecological succession. Its ability to fix nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with rhizobia further enhances its capacity to establish itself in degraded ecosystems, influencing soil chemistry and promoting biodiversity in the surrounding habitat.

Elevational range max:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Acacia mangium is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a growth habit that facilitates its structural dominance in forest environments. This phanerophyte life form ensures that the plant's vital structures are well-positioned above the ground level, contributing to its overall stability and resource acquisition capabilities. Furthermore, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which supports continuous photosynthetic activity and consistent growth patterns.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Acacia mangium is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree that is entirely self-supporting. This species is a terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism rather than an epiphyte or a parasite. It typically attains a significant stature, with an average plant height of 25 m and the potential to reach a maximum height of up to 27 m. As a self-supporting tree, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as lianas or vines, nor does it possess aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

27 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acacia mangium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon assimilation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. A defining physiological feature of this species is its capacity for biological nitrogen fixation; it functions as a nitrogen fixer by establishing symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria, typically from the genus Bradyrhizobium, within specialized root nodules. This symbiotic nitrogen fixation allows the plant to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, providing a critical nutrient source that supports rapid biomass production and growth, particularly in nitrogen-deficient tropical soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Acacia mangium is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects. This pollination process is supported by the presence of self-fertilization, which ensures reproductive success within its ecosystem. The resulting seeds are relatively small, with a mean seed mass of 0.0146 g. Individual seed weights vary within a specific range, with a minimum mass of 0.0102 g and a maximum mass reaching up to 0.019 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0146 g

Seed mass min:

0.0102 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acacia mangium has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. F1000Research

Chemicals

Acacia mangium has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DICHLOROMETHANE, EPIISOPILOTURINE, ethanol, methanol, n-Hexane.

DICHLOROMETHANE

1. F1000Research

EPIISOPILOTURINE

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

ethanol

1. F1000Research

methanol

1. F1000Research

n-Hexane

1. F1000Research

Conditions

Acacia mangium has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis c virus

1. F1000Research

Preparations

Acacia mangium has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane extracts, ethanol extracts, methanol extracts, n-hexane extracts.

Dichloromethane extracts

1. F1000Research

Ethanol extracts

1. F1000Research

Methanol extracts

1. F1000Research

N-hexane extracts

1. F1000Research