Acacia aneura aka Mulga

Acacia aneura, or mulga, belongs to the pea family. It is native to the dry inland parts of Australia. Its range includes five mainland states and territories, but not Victoria. It grows in deserts and dry shrubland. Useful Tropical Plants reports a Least Concern listing from 2013. This evergreen plant can form either a shrub or tree.

Its size depends on rain and soil depth. In wetter sites, trees reach 33–49 feet [10–15 metres]. Dry sites or shallow soils can limit height to 7–10 feet [2–3 metres]. Garden references give an upper height of 49 feet [15 metres]. Growth is slow, with a rounded or vase-shaped crown. The short trunk has deep cracks and may twist. Seedlings grow true leaves. Mature plants bear phyllodes, flat leaf-like parts, in their place.

The yellow flowers appear from March to July, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female parts. Bees and other insects pollinate them. The plant also forms seed pods. Its foliage gives it value as a garden specimen. Its wide root system helps hold soil against erosion. The plant can fix nitrogen. People use its wood for fences and small carved objects. Flowers yield yellow dye, while pods yield green dye.

Grow mulga in full sun and soil that drains well. Sandy loam suits it, though other good garden soils can work. It prefers mildly acid to neutral soil. Avoid soil with too much lime. It can grow in dry or moist ground and withstand drought. Wild plants also cope with brief flooding. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11. Australian garden records report survival at 19°F [-7°C]. That does not assure survival through Britain's longer, wetter winters. Harsh winters can kill trees even in mild British sites.

Mulga has long served as food for Indigenous Australians. Cooked seeds can be dried and milled into flour. People mix this flour with cereals to make cakes. The flowers are also eaten cooked, including in fritters. The bark yields an edible gum. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards for this species. Useful Tropical Plants also describes its seeds as safe food. These sources give no named pests or diseases. Plants For A Future records no known medicinal uses, though Useful Tropical Plants mentions such use without details.