Mimosaceae: Characters, Economic Importance, Distribution and Types

(c) Mimosaceae (Acacia family):

This family has 56 genera and about 2800 species are well-known in the world. There are 11 genera and 49 species are discovered till now in Asia.

Diagnostic characters of Mimosaceae:

1. Habit: Mostly trees or shrubs. Rarely climbers or herbs. Most of them are xerophytes.

2. Stem: Mostly woody

3. Leaves: They have pinnate, compound, alternate and stipulate leaves. The stipules are modified into thrones.

4. Inflorescence: It is spike like (soft thorny str.) or head or umbel. It is rarely (infrequently) racemose or globose umbel.

5. Flowers: The flower of family Mimosaceae is bisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous to slightly perigynous and bracteate (small leaf-like structures).

6. Calyx: They have 5 sepals. These sepals are fused. toothed or lobed.

7. Corolla: They have 5 petals. These petals may be free or fused.

8. Androecium: Stamens are five to numerous. They are free, adnate or attached to base of corolla (epipetalous).

9. Gynoecium: They have simple one carpel. Ovary is unilocular and superior. It has Many ovules. Placentation is marginal.

10. Fruit: Fruit is a legume. The legume may be dehiscent or indehiscent.

Floral formula of Mimosaceae:

⚥ K(5) C(5) A∞ G1̅

Floral diagram of Mimosaceae:

Economic Importance of Mimosaceae:

1. Wood: Many trees of this family provide wood that has huge commercial Importance, for example, some species are Acacia, Albizzia and Xyila etc. Their wood is used for the construction of houses, for furniture or for fuel.

2. Gum: Gum is obtained from Acacia nilotica and Acacia Senegal both of these members are belongs to family Mimosaceae.

3. Dye: A dye Katha is obtained from Acacia catechu that's rare member of the Mimosaceae family.

4. Medicinal plants: The tender leaves of Acacia nilotica has very vital role in the purification of blood. Are used as blood purifiers.

5. Ornamental plants: Some common plants are grown in houses, parks and gardens for their beautiful flowers and pleasant fragrances. Some of these are Mimosa pudica and Acacia melanoxylon.

6. Wind breaking: A few species of Prospis are planted in the arid zones for breaking the wind pressure.

Common species of Mimosaceae:

(a) Acacia nilotica 

(b) Albizzia lebbek

(c) Mimosa pudica, Touch me not.

(d) Prosopis glandulosa.

(e) Prosopis cineraria.