The visco acacia which is also known by other names such as Viscote Blanco, Arca, Viscote Negro, also as Viscote and even only as Visco. It is a perennial leaf plant, that is, it can last more than 2 years and is native to South America and was later distributed throughout the African continent. The name acacia comes from the Greek word ακις which means thorns and the word visco which comes from the Latin dialect which means sticky. This tree was first described in 1879 by August Heinrich Rudolf Grisebach and published in the journal Symbolae ad Floram Argentinam.
Visco acacia description
The visco acacia is a medium-sized tree that is generally 8 to 12 meters tall and has a maximum diameter of 15 meters. It is part of the family of trees that are characterized by producing legumes in the form of pods, their foliage is extensive and rounded, their trunk is dark and cracked and they fall off at certain seasons of the year or do not shed completely. Its leaves are made up of pairs of smaller, greenish leaves that can be feather-shaped. Its flowering is yellow and with a very perfumed aroma that is noticeable in spring, then they tend to oxidize to present a cluster appearance at the end of the branch.
It produces a type of flat legume that has a light brownish color that opens at a certain time to drop its seeds. Its leaves are thin so it helps to cast soft shadows and allows a light breeze to pass through. Its flowers are born in spring and in autumn it is characterized by showing its legumes and in summer by its intense green color. Unlike the acacia greggi the visco acacia does not have thorns on its bark, so it is easy to recognize on the street or in a public park, and even in gardens.
Distribution and habitat of the visco acacia
The visco acacia is a tree native to South America but it can be seen especially in countries like Bolivia where they are kept at heights ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level, as well as in the central part of Argentina and the northwest of this country and also in Chile. They are located in lands that are not sandy and not muddy, they are generally located in places where they receive direct sun or sun after noon, so they would not support strong winters. It lives in wooded forests where its leaves fall at certain times of the year, as well as in other types of mixed and broad-leaved forests.
It is also seen living in Argentine provinces such as Tucumán, Salta, San Juan, Jujuy, La Rioja, La Pampa, Catamarca, San Luis and Córdoba. It can be seen in different streets and avenues of the capital of Argentina and when they are victims of contamination they present a fungus called Ravenellia papilosa that distorts the appearance of their branches. In countries like Peru, they are seen to the south in areas on the banks of rivers at altitudes that range between 500 and a thousand meters above sea level.
Reproduction of visco acacia
Visco acacias have a relatively simple mode of reproduction, in which, because they have hard seeds, scarification must be carried out so that they can germinate much faster. Therefore, each seed must be added a little water with a temperature almost boiling for several seconds, taking care that they are not cooked, and then leave them to soak for 1 or 2 days before sowing them.
Details of the Cultivation of the visco acacia
The viscous acacia after being put to soak and having spent enough time like this, should have a swollen appearance, and if not, we would proceed to remove part of the bark with great care not to damage the internal part, then it is placed in the place to be sown having left the place where the seed will be placed soaked for half a day. This plant is closely related to certain bacteria that are found in the soil, which after the seed begins to germinate, will begin to develop certain protuberances on the roots that help the nitrogen filtration process found in the environment, where it is used. the plant while it is developing and other plants that are in its vicinity with the same purpose.
Visco acacia uses
The visco acacia is widely used for its resistant wood for carpentry work such as furniture and musical instruments, to build houses, frames and boxes and as decoration of environments which is very characteristic in many types of acacias.
