Species name :

Vachellia farnesiana(L.) Wight & Arn.
Published in Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. : 272 (1834)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Mimosa farnesiana L.

Synonym that was used for long in Malta: Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [WFO] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Mimosaceae R. Br. (The Acacias Family)
9 species from the Mimosaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Sweet Acacia

Maltese name(s) :

Gażżija tax-xewk żgħir, Akaċja tax-xewk żgħir

Status for Malta :

Naturalised Alien. Species that was introduced in Malta after year 1492 (Columbus' discovery of the New World) and spreads and integrates to form established, non-invasive populations. Species may become become invasive if it widespreads rapidly.

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Germination type [info]: Dicotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Macro-Phanerophyte ( high trees usually over 5 m high )

Legal Protection :

Not legally protected till the last update of this website (22/Aug/2025)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

March – May

Colour of Flowers:

Yellow

Toxicity:

Mildy toxic, can cause adverse conditions if consumed in large quantities

Name Derivation :

Vachellia: ()

farnesiana: ()

Planting in rural areas :

Cannot be planted in the wild (rural areas) since the species may be invasive (see ERA guidelines)

Remarks :

Closely related is the species Accacia karroo, with larger and more numerous thorns and more common in Malta. Acacia species are highly invasive and planned to be eridicated from our islands by local authorities. Planting of Acacia and Vachellia trees in now prohibited by Maltese Law.