Useful information on the acacia tree

There exists over 1.200 species of acacia mainly located in Africa and Australia. This tree belongs to the family of leguminous plants. This membership may make us smile but let us remember that this family is a very large one and comprises plants such as Baobab trees, peanuts and beans, for example... It belongs to the subfamily of mimosoïds: eh yes, the mimosa is an acacia!

The imputrecibility of this wood confered it a special place in history: it is said that it covered the Ark of the Covenant containing the Tables of the Law for the Jewish people. Moreover, legend has it that three disciples of Hiram, the architect of the temple of king Solomon, deceived not to be recognized for their achievements, would have murdered their master and placed a branch of acacia on the site where they dissimulated him. These reasons make the acacia a very potent symbol in many cultures, notably Freemasonry.

The trees which we commonly call "acacia" in our regions are not real acacias: most often they are "robiniers", or locut trees, which are also called "false acacia". In fact, they look very much alike except the flowers are white instead of being yellow. This species, which soon became a very familiar tree on the Old Continent, was brought from America at the beginning of the 17th century. Its name comes from "Robin", the gardener of the king (and not Robin Wood). It is also a member of the family of leguminous plants, but belongs to the subfamily of papilionoïds.

Locust trees, or false acacias, also present imputrecible (rot-proof) characteritics and have the distinctive particularity to grow several shoots when they are cut to the stump, thus greatly facilitating their culture.

Furthermore, they grow very quickly and may already be cut after 30 to 70 years in some regions.

This rapid-growth tree deprives slower growing species of much needed sunlight and, through the secretion of growth inhibiting substances through the roots, it insures its predominance and expansion.

Its wood is very dense and requires adapted tools to be worked.

All the stakes of EURO ACACIA are in locust tree and it is a key element of our quality approach.

We closely monitor cutting conditions and require the culture of this wood after exploitation so as to prevent deforestation.