The Earleaf Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) is an invasive tree in Florida:
Origin
Native to Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea
Description
Evergreen tree with dark green, sickle-shaped leaves, yellow-orange flowers, and flat, oblong pods containing black seeds
Ecological impact
Can shade out rare plants, displace native flora, and crowd out native plant species
How it spreads
Each tree can produce up to 47,000 seeds that disperse through canals, creeks, and rivers
Where it grows
Thrives in wet areas, full sun, and almost any soil, including alkaline and moderately salt-tolerant
How it’s being controlled
Scientists are testing biological control agents like the Australian beetle Calomela intemerata and gall wasps to curb the spread of the tree
Other common names for the earleaf acacia include auri, blackwattle, Darwin black wattle, and Papuan wattle.
