Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk - Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia

Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon

Blackwood or Acacia melanoxylon is a long-lived wattle that reaches a height of 20 metres in this region; its grows much larger in Tasmania. As well as growing in the forest, it also colonises cleared land, so you will notice it springing up here and there, particularly along the edge of the forest. This tree does not have real leaves; instead, it has modified stems called "phyllodes". The balls of light yellow flowers can be seen from late winter to spring. Blackwood produces a dark timber often used for the manufacture of furniture.