Blackwood
ExplorePlants
Blackwood
acacia melanoxylon
The Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), also known as the Australian Blackwood, is a majestic evergreen tree native to eastern Australia. Renowned for its exceptionally high-quality timber, which boasts rich, dark tones similar to walnut, this tree is highly prized by woodworkers and luthiers worldwide for making fine furniture and musical instruments. Beyond its economic value, the Blackwood plays a critical ecological role in its native temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, offering vital shelter and food to a diverse array of native wildlife. Highly adaptable, the Blackwood can grow as a towering canopy tree in wet, sheltered gullies or as a smaller, hardier shrub in drier, exposed coastal regions. Its ability to fix nitrogen enriches the soil, facilitating the growth of surrounding plant species and contributing to the overall health and succession of its forest ecosystem.
Habitat: Found in wet sclerophyll forests, temperate rainforest margins, and coastal woodlands, often thriving in fertile, moist soils along river banks.
Appearance
The Blackwood is a medium to large tree, reaching heights of 10 to 35 meters, characterized by a dense, symmetrical crown of dark green foliage. Interestingly, what appear to be leaves are actually flattened leaf stalks called phyllodes, which are lance-shaped, slightly curved, and feature prominent longitudinal veins. In late winter and spring, the tree bursts into color with clusters of pale yellow to cream-colored globular flower heads. The bark is dark grey to black, deeply fissured, and rough to the touch, contrasting beautifully with the twisting reddish-brown seed pods that split open to reveal black seeds encircled by bright pinkish-red stalks.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusAcacia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Indigenous Australians historically used the bark of the Blackwood to make string, shields, and throwing sticks, and infused the bark in water to treat rheumatism.
The beautiful, highly figured wood of the Blackwood is prized worldwide for crafting premium acoustic guitars and fine furniture.
The bright red, fleshy cord wrapping around the black seed mimics a worm to trick birds into eating and dispersing the seeds.
Special abilities
Ability
Phyllode Adaptation
Modified leaf petioles called phyllodes function as leaves, reducing water loss while maximizing photosynthetic efficiency in diverse climates.
Ability
Nitrogen Fixation
Hosts symbiotic rhizobia bacteria in its root system to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable soil nutrients, enriching poor soils.
Ability
Fire-Stimulated Germination
Produces tough seeds that can remain dormant in the soil for decades, germinating rapidly after the heat of a forest fire clears the canopy.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1000-3500 cm
- Weight
- 1500-12000 kg
- Lifespan
- 50-150 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photosynthetic plant, the Blackwood synthesizes its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients absorbed from the soil.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Water
- Carbon Dioxide
- Soil Minerals
Ecological connections
eaten by
Common Ringtail Possum
Pseudocheirus peregrinus
The leaves and young shoots of the Blackwood provide a vital food source for this native Australian marsupial.
mutualism
European Honeybee
Apis mellifera
Feeds on the nectar of the pale yellow blossoms, acting as a primary pollinator during winter and spring.
mutualism
Crimson Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Birds eat the seeds, attracted by the bright red arils, and subsequently disperse them across the forest.
Traits
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Also known as
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Blackwood?
The easiest way to identify Blackwood is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Blackwood?
1000-3500 cm
How much does Blackwood weigh?
1500-12000 kg
How long does Blackwood live?
50-150 years
What does Blackwood eat?
As a photosynthetic plant, the Blackwood synthesizes its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients absorbed from the soil.
Where is Blackwood usually found?
Found in wet sclerophyll forests, temperate rainforest margins, and coastal woodlands, often thriving in fertile, moist soils along river banks.
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