In parts of southern Europe, acacias have been grown for their ornamental value and used in floral displays. The cut flowers and foliage of species such as A. baileyana (Cootamundra Wattle), A. dealbata (Silver Wattle), A. podalyriifolia (Queensland Silver Wattle) and A. retinodes (Wirilda) are marketed under the name 'mimosa'. This industry and its potential in Australia are discussed in Sedgley & Parletta (1993).
In southern France, oil from the flowers of A. dealbata and A. farnesiana (Mimosa Bush) is used as a fixative and blending agent in the manufacture of high-grade perfume (Guenther, 1952). In Western Australia, acacias play an important role in the commercial production of Sandalwood oil from Santalum album (Indian Sandalwood) and S. spicatum (Sandalwood) (Radomiljac et al., 1998; Brand et al., 1999). Species such as A. trachycarpa (Minni Ritchi) and A. acuminata are being successfully used as host plants for these root hemi-parasites.
Useful information on the use of Acacia in the cut flower and perfume industry in southern France is provided on the Acacia World website.
References
Brand, J.E., Crombie, D.S. & Mitchell, M.D. (1999), Establishment and growth of sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) in south-western Australia: the influence of host species. Austral. Forest. 63: 60-65.
Guenther, E. (1952), The essential oils. Volume 5. Van Nostrand Company, New York.
Radomiljac, A.M., Shea, S.R., McKinnell, F.H. & McComb, J.A. (1998), Potential for irrigated tropical forestry in northern Western Australia, Austral. Forest. 61: 70-75.
Sedgley, M. & Parletta, M. (1993), Australian acacias have huge potential as cut flowers, Austral. Hort. February 1993, pp. 24-26.
