Acacia
Original title: Acácia
An account of the acacia species, mostly of Australian and tropical origin, grown or naturalised in Madeira, and of the false acacia (Robinia) wrongly called acácia on the island.
This genus of the Leguminosae family, subfamily Mimosoideae, is represented in Madeira by many species, some with bipinnate leaves, others with the leaves reduced to phyllodes (petioles shaped like leaves). To the first group belong Acacia dealbata (white acacia), very common at Monte, Choupana (‘hut’), etc.; A. Farnesiana (aroma amarelo), grown in gardens and subspontaneous at various places near the coast; A. Leucocephala (aroma branco), a subspontaneous shrub at Gorgulho (‘weevil’) and Praia Formosa (‘beautiful beach’); and A. (Albizzia) lophantha, an almost always shrubby species, naturalised chiefly at Monte. To the second group belong A. Melanoxylon, grown in quintas, squares and some streets; and A. retinoides, A. Sophorae and A. longifolia, common in the quintas and gardens of Madeira. Acacias are native to Australia and the warm regions of America, Asia and Africa, and many other species besides those we have mentioned may be found on the island. Robinia pseudo Acacia, wrongly known in Madeira as acácia, is a thorny tree belonging to the subfamily Papilionaceae and native to North America; it is easy to recognise by its imparipinnate leaves and its white, fragrant flowers borne in clusters.
In this article
Place
Places mentioned · 06
Abroad
- Australia
Main region of origin of acacias.
Country named as the main region of origin of acacias and the native land of Eucalyptus globulus. It is also the only other known breeding area of Pelagodroma marina. A major believed António de Abreu may have sighted it.
- Choupana
Funchal. Locality where Acacia dealbata is frequent.
Choupana is a locality in Santa Maria Maior parish, Funchal, south of Pico do Infante, where the Levada da Serra do Faial ends. It has the Quintas do Miradouro and da Choupana, where a fête was given during the royal visit, grows Acacia dealbata and eucalyptus, and was hit by a shell in the 1917 bombardment.
- Gorgulho
Funchal. Place where Acacia leucocephala grows subspontaneously.
Coastal locality and islet west of Funchal in São Martinho, with a ruined fort. It has lava flows containing rock pools, columnar basalt nearby and a municipal seawater pool built in 1932. It was the planned site of a glass and tile works.
- Monte
Funchal. Area where Acacia dealbata is frequent and Albizzia lophantha is naturalised.
Parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte above Funchal, at about 600 m, where leafing occurs later than in Funchal. It contains the localities of Jardim Botânico, Igreja and Marmeleiros and the Quinta de Sant'Ana. The Elucidário notes its many plants, such as acacias and Sonchus fruticosus.
- North America
United States/Canada. Origin of Robinia pseudoacacia.
Region named as the origin of plants later found on Madeira, such as Robinia pseudoacacia. It was the main destination of Madeiran embroidery exports and of Madeiran emigrants, including emigrants fleeing persecution. Several Madeiran priests lived or raised funds there.
- Praia Formosa
Funchal. Beach where Acacia leucocephala grows subspontaneously.
Praia Formosa is a sandy beach west of Funchal, forming the southern boundary of the parish of São Martinho. French corsairs landed there on 3 October 1566 before sacking Funchal, and the site was later fortified. The Elucidário also records the wreck of the Britannia in 1828, quarantine anchorage off the beach, abundant olivine crystals and several notable plants.