Robinia it's known as non-native and invasive tree, but how many good qualities does she have?
Check it on the article!
The Acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a tree species native to North America. It was imported to Europe for French King Henry IV in 1601 by Jean Robin, who planted a specimen in Paris. This is still extant, although damaged by bombing in World War I and later also by lightning. For this reason, it had to be supported with three concrete pillars. Nevertheless, it is vigorous continues to bloom every spring for over four hundred years. The longest-lived acacia in Europe.
Outside its natural range of vegetation, it has limited longevity (60-70 years); in these areas it is considered a pioneer species that may be gradually replaced by other, longer-lived species.
It is a heliophilous plant, which does not easily renew under cover of other trees, prefers loose, well-drained soils, even nutrient-poor and subacid-reacting soils, poorly adapted to very clayey soils. In some environments, especially those degraded by humans, this plant behaves as an invasive species; it has a high growth rate, especially when coppiced, the shoots that emerge from both the stump and its extensive root system grow rapidly; for this reason, it often competes victoriously with slower- growing native species.
The consequence is the formation of forests with reduced diversity, fewer specimens of native tree species, and a scarcity of flora and fungi. The rapid spread of this species was initially favored by humans, who value it mainly for its extremely strong wood that is durable to adverse conditions, but also as a melliferous and ornamental plant; it also has abundant and fragrant flowering and high growth speed.
The Acacia tree was chosen as the tree of the year in 2020 in Germany.
---
Bibliography
- Istituto per la Piante da Legno e l’ambiente (2000): La Robinia, Regione Piemonte, Blue Edizioni, Peveragno