Listen to the vuvuzela hum of bees! Here are some Acacia saligna trees growing on my estate. Some bush tucker websites say Acacia saligna seeds are toxic. Others say they are edible. Some say the flowers can be made into fritters. I have never tried them, but now that the trees are getting bigger, it's time for me to do the necessary research on the edibility of the seeds. I originally planted these trees, a few years back, because I read online that they were bearers of edible seed--as well as beautiful and decorative flowering ornamentals. Quite drought-hardy, as well.
There are literally hundreds of different types of Acacias (a.k.a. "wattles"--from "wattle and daub" building materials) in Australia. Many have edible seeds that are eaten by the aborigines and bush tucker people. Qantas has served wattleseed icecream as a special dessert treat for air travellers. Many wattle trees are listed as having toxic seeds, or seeds that require some sort of treatment to make them edible.
Below, I list a few good links about Acacias, seed edibility, and seed treatment. Do your research, before eating any wattle seeds. Ask for information on bush tucker at your local State Forestry Commission. Or, else, ask aboriginal people who are well skilled in Australian bush tucker foraging. They can show you, and tell you, which Acacias are edible; and how and when to pick and prepare the seeds for food.
Useful Acacia links:
http://www.worldwidewattle.com/infogallery/utilisation/seeds.php
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~peterrjones/bushtucker/wattle.htm
http://anpsa.org.au/APOL25/mar02-3.html
http://www.anbg.gov.au/education/bush-food/Eating-around-Australia.doc.
http://www.ausbushfoods.com/oldmag/plants/acacias.htm
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