Acacia: Growing Towards Mutual Symbiosis

By Communacacian. Originally published in Journal 4 alongside EGA’s 2017 symposium.

*Acacia obtusifolia seedling. Image by Communacacian.*

With the flourishing interest in Acacia trees that contain tryptamine alkaloids, questions surrounding sustainable practice, protecting the environment and conservation have become ever more pronounced. It is clear that most who choose to explore the medicinal facets of our floral emblem seriously have a deep respect and admiration for these plants and their alchemical magic. Conversely, it is the ignorant and misguided few that have sought to capitalise on their seeming abundance, which has led to ongoing mindless and amateur harvesting within sensitive ecosystems. A culture perpetuated by uneducated end-users as exemplified in The Nexian article “When DMT Equals Killing the Environment” (Nen & Nickles, 2014). It is time for us to step up as custodians of our medicine trees in order to establish a more harmonious and sustainable relationship. For more people to engage in a process often spoken about yet seldom enacted seriously, where seeds are nurtured to fruition on an individual and community basis.

“It is time for us to step up as custodians of our medicine trees in order to establish a more harmonious and sustainable relationship.”

Growing these trees secures the conservation of threatened species through establishing ex-situ populations and provides ongoing sustainable access, thus diverting the need for habitats to be touched. It offers the opportunity for people to engage in the entire process intimately and discreetly, bridging the disconnect of today’s consumer culture. This ‘hands on’ approach cultivates a deeper understanding and respect for these trees, initiating seekers into an ancient story of the right relationship between humans and nature, one of mutual symbiosis. Perhaps this is the most important jewel to be exhumed from our interactions with ‘teacher’ plants and the actual thing to be passionately shared with the broader community. A common insight of our collective psychedelic experiences is that we individuals are but a node within a sensitive web of connection, with every action having unseen ramifications. Therefore, it is crucial that we consider whether our approach to the very thing that facilitates our spiritual awakening is conducive to growth or destruction. Ultimately it is not the alkaloids, but the wisdom the trees offer that we seek a deeper understanding of the self and our place in the world. Could it be that what the trees seek is to ensure the continuation of their species and the greater natural environment that supports them? An endeavour that relies upon humans becoming more aware of their power and responsibility in order to curb our unsustainable trajectory, to bring harmony to imbalance.

Acacias depict the benefits of mutually supportive relationships through their interaction with soil bacteria called rhizobia. These bacteria fix nitrogen from the atmosphere by converting it into ammonia, making it available to the plant through connections with the root system. In exchange, the plant provides the bacteria amino acids. The nitrogen the bacteria fixes is in a form that it itself cannot assimilate; it is only through the exchange with the plant that nitrogen is received back in a form that can be used for growth. This relationship allows both parties to thrive in ways that would not be possible without the other present.

“I ruminate on the notion that Acacia’s production of DMT... is a form of chemical communication... Acacias are pioneering the interfacing of human and plant consciousness in Australia through the consumption and distribution of their alkaloids.”

It is this access to atmospheric nitrogen that enables Acacia to act as a ‘pioneer species’, one of the first plants to colonise disrupted ecosystems and land deficient in nutrients. The symbiotic practice itself and falling plant matter provide nitrogen to the soil allowing other species to migrate into the area thereby leading to a successive ecosystem. Given this pioneering nature coupled with personal insight, I ruminate on the notion that Acacia’s production of DMT (which is still a debated question for those in the scientific paradigm) is a form of chemical communication. I suggest that just as they set the stage for greater interconnection and diversity in the environment, Acacias are pioneering the interfacing of human and plant consciousness in Australia through the consumption and distribution of their alkaloids.

*Mount Buffalo, the home of Acacia phlebophylla. Photo by Communacacian.*

With that, I would like to focus on some horticultural developments that have enabled a positive outlook for the future of the more threatened species. Acacia phlebophylla is a small, twisted tree with robust leathery foliage, a beautiful physical expression of its locality within the harsh Victorian alpine environment of Mount Buffalo. Brought to attention by the first publications of Acacia’s surprise psychedelic phytochemistry, discovered by CSIRO researchers in the mid-1960s. It is revered for its unique beauty, vulnerability and exceptionally clean alkaloid profile. Cultivation outside of its natural locale was seen as nearly impossible with a very low success rate. A few inexplicable successes coincided with countless failures to cultivate this species with any sort of longevity. In 2014, Darren from Herbalistics published his research on the inoculation of seed during germination with rhizobia bacteria in the form of a commercial inoculant. This led to a pronounced strike rate and elevated overall health thereafter. Simultaneously, myself and other researchers were experimenting with bacteria-laden soil collected from the wild and experiencing similar success.

Whilst the benefits of inoculating Acacia species were already well established, its aid in the germination process had not before been documented. The exact mechanism of the bacteria’s role in this process requires further research, however, this discovery represents a breakthrough in the conservation of this species. The long-discussed proposal to plant out ‘satellite’ or ex-situ populations is finally becoming a reality as numbers on the mountain slowly decline due to ever-increasing damage from insect associated disease.

*Acacia courtii. Photo by Communacacian.*

The next species, and quite possibly the most important Acacia tree to grow, is the also rare and threatened Acacia courtii. Found only on the Three Brothers Mountains in the subtropical mid-north coast of NSW, Acacia courtii is an exceptionally beautiful tree with elegant weeping foliage that cascades down and often out onto the rocky granite slopes that constitute its habitat. Despite having the same highly efficient reproduction methods as all other Acacia, it remains naturally micro-endemic (confined to a restricted location), yet when the seed is collected from its habitat and germinated, no special treatment is required. In fact, they germinate readily and display high adaptability, now flourishing in many private gardens in differing parts of Australia. This suggests that they simply choose to grow in their defined location until humans relocate their seeds. Perhaps they are performing a particular function there that we do not understand and have no need to spread their seeds further when they quite easily could.

“Once reasonable numbers are established ex-situ and flowering, seeds for distribution and further growth will be abundant, nullifying any need to further disturb their sensitive habitat. ”

In cultivation they are very fast growing and given enough space, can grow to twice the size of specimens found in the wild, each tree offering a tremendous amount of highly potent and sustainable phyllodes that are continuously shed onto the ground below. They have high seed production and the ability to self-pollinate. Mature trees can produce many hundreds of seeds per flush, which unusually can occur sporadically multiple times a year. Additionally, in 2014 Sam from Sam’s Plants discovered that this species can be propagated via cutting, a process most Acacia species refuse. This discovery means that one healthy tree can be multiplied into a vast number, even if it is not yet at seeding maturity. This significantly reduces the demand for further seeds to be collected from the mountains with limited populations. Once reasonable numbers are established ex-situ and flowering, seeds for distribution and further growth will be abundant, nullifying any need to further disturb their sensitive habitat.

It is clear that the current approach to medicinal Acacia species as a whole needs to evolve. It is up to individuals and groups to participate in the growing process, in order to advance and disseminate knowledge of how to engage with these plants in a harmonious way. To ensure that vulnerable and important species are conserved and accessible for future generations.

About Communacacian

Communacacian has been exploring the cultivation and conservation of entheogenic Acacia in Australia for the past seven years, with a focus on the rare and threatened species. Communacacian believes the key to ensuring these important trees are protected and accessible to future generations lies within education and a hands on approach. Drawing upon his studies and experience in horticulture and arboriculture, Communacacian has been sharing his cultivation, field exploration and experiential insights with the community.