acacia

Everyday

1. A tree or shrub with small leaves, often thorns, and yellow or white flowers, that grows in warm, dry places such as Africa and Australia. tree →
2. In Australia many acacias are called wattle; golden wattle is the national flower. tree →

In the lessons

Seen in science and geography lessons about savannahs and deserts: giraffes eat acacia leaves, and the flat-topped acacia is a picture of the African savannah. In Australia children learn about wattle. Phrases: acacia tree, acacia honey, acacia wood.

Examples

• Giraffes stretch their long necks to eat acacia leaves. tree →
• The acacia had sharp thorns. tree →
• In Australia, the golden wattle is a kind of acacia. tree →
• Bees make honey from acacia flowers. tree →
• We sat in the shade of an acacia on the savannah. tree →
• Acacia trees can live in very dry places. tree →
• The acacia-trees now overshadow every part of the island. tree →

Note

Pronounced a-KAY-sha (UK, US). Plural: acacias. In Australia and New Zealand the everyday name is wattle. Some trees called "acacia" in Europe are really false acacia (locust tree).

In Jewish tradition

Acacia wood, called shittim in Hebrew, was used to build the Tabernacle, its Ark, table and altar, usually covered with gold. Isaiah names the acacia among the trees God will plant in the wilderness, a picture of the desert blooming when He restores His people.

Interpretation. Tradition notes that this wood came from trees that Jacob was said to have planted in Egypt, so the people had it ready for the Tabernacle. Isaiah's trees are read as a promise of the world's renewal.

Examples

• and rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia-wood; (Torah EXO.25.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he made staves of acacia-wood, and overlaid them with gold. (Torah EXO.37.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thou shalt make staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them with gold. (Torah EXO.25.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia-tree, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane-tree, and the larch together; (Prophets ISA.41.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced a-KAY-sha (UK, US). Plural: acacias. In Australia and New Zealand the everyday name is wattle. Some trees called "acacia" in Europe are really false acacia (locust tree).