Is this what I think it is?

[Crazyhorse]

Found this growing by the side of the road, Looks like some kind of mimosa, I'm hoping someone with more intimate knowledge of these plants can confirm whether it's a Hostilis. Or at least something close enough to be worth some late-night root excavating.

 

[Vodsel]

No, mate, I'm sorry... that's not MH. Leaves are different and those are HUGE thorns compared to hostilis.

I will check to see if I can find an ID, though.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Aw man, I thought hostilis DID have huge thorns. That's what got my hopes up. :?

But I think I see what you mean about the leaves, Bummer. But maybe it's got root goodies anyway?

 

[Vodsel]

Hostilis' thorns are more similar to roses' thorns... I haven't seen them bigger than half an inch. Your find might be an acacia, but I'm no expert in those.

 

[gammagore]

Looks like the same kind of tree that were all over the place back in S.Africa, once got stabbed in the back by one of those thorns when I was bmx'ing as a kid. Bugger.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Huh. oh well can't blame a guy for trying. Thought I'd hit the jackpot there. Thanks very much for the assist!

It's all right though, I've got the real deal en route anyway. Possibly arriving today! :thumb_up:

 

[Lago Chiller]

It looks like a honey locust tree, especially with those thorns!
The seed pod looks plumper though.
If you are downunder it is considered a weed.

I considered growing some here in NA at 45th parallel but the seeds are very sweet and would certainly attract deer which I don't want to do. So I opted for black locust instead which is an incredibly fast grower with hard, hi heating value wood and it stands up well to ground contact too.

 

[Crazyhorse]

It looks like a honey locust tree, especially with those thorns!

Sure looks like that must be a close relative at least! The leaves on this thing seem more spread out, and the trunk is shorter, the branches hang down to the ground.

I should have gone and looked up some mimosa pictures before posting, I was relying on my memory of them which obviously wasn't very good!

 

[Parshvik Chintan]

Looks like that must be a close relative at least!

definitely in the Mimosoideae subfamily, still possibly active (looking at the list of species, it seems quite a few active plants are in this subfamily), but i would try to get a definitive identification first.

 

[Crazyhorse]

Looks like that must be a close relative at least!

definitely in the Mimosoideae subfamily, still possibly active (looking at the list of species, it seems quite a few active plants are in this subfamily), but i would try to get a definitive identification first.

That would be awesome if it's active, this stuff probably grows all over the place around here so I'd have plenty of material to work with, and if I want to grow my own from the seeds I collected, I already know it likes the local environment. :d Thanks for checking it out, I really wouldn't have a clue how to identify it.

 

[Parshvik Chintan]

I really wouldn't have a clue how to identify it.

me either... perhaps some botany forums?