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General
Acacia paradoxa DC
Mimosaceae
Life form: Evergreen spiny shrub
En: Kangaroo thorn, Fr: Acacia paradoxa
Provenance: Southeast and southwest Australia
Distribution in Israel
The kangaroo thorn has been reported in the wild in Israel only
since 2004. An emerging population has been found in the Judean
Hills region next to a former tree nursery belonging to the JNF
forest department.
Proliferation status
Since the only population found in the wild is relatively small,
Acacia paradoxa should be considered as a naturalized
alien species, according to terminology suggested by Richardson
et al. (2000).
Acacia paradoxa in Israel
Very little information is available about the kangaroo thorn
in Israel. It was originally introduced in Israel presumably
during the 1920s for soil erosion control. Unlike in other Mediterranean
countries, it was apparently not used for ornamental purposes
in Israel.
Since Acacia paradoxa is growing horizontally on the ground,
it can crowd out native vegetation easily.
Control
Mechanical removal is effective. Yet a follow up is necessary
in order to uproot the young seedlings that are emerging in the
areas where matures have been removed.
Chemical control may be used, preferably with triclopyr as a
foliar treatment. In this case a follow up is also required as
it is necessary to apply the herbicide on new seedlings.
An integrated control strategy, including mechanical removal
of matures followed by a chemical treatment of seedlings, is
probably the best control approach.
No biological control methods have been developed yet for the
kangaroo thorn.
References
Dufour-Dror J.M. & Danin A. (2004). Acacia paradoxa
DC. In: Greuter W. & Raus T. (Eds) Med-checklist Notulae,
22. Willdenowia 34:71-80, p.75.
Parson W.T. & Cuthbertson
E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of Australia. Second edition. CSIRO
Publishing, Collingwood, Australia, p.698.
Simmons M.H. (1981) Acacias of
Australia, vol.1, Nelson. |
