Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ®
A walk through the Trees
[Flora Terms]
Photos:
Larger view of the mimosa in bloom (21 k) [by Eric Rowe]
Mimosa bush (28 k) [by Russ]
A good big view of the leaves (36 k) [by Russ]
| Acacia dealbata | family: Leguminosae |
The bluish-green mimosa bushes bloom in the winter (Nov-Mar) and cover the Tanneron hills, west of Cannes (near Auribeau) with bright yellow flowers and a strong fragrance. Mimosa was imported from Australia in 1839, and has since taken over the slopes of the Tanneron. It is now cultivated and the cut flowers are sold throughout France and abroad.
Mimosa grows as bushes or small trees, and can sometimes reach 30 m. The bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are 2-pinnate, with 8-10 pairs of primary divisions and numerous small linear leaflets. This is the only variety of mimosa with the rows of tiny leaflets.
Blue-Leaved Wattle - Mimosa Glauque
| Acacia cyanophylla |
This variety can grow to 10 m, with grey or greyish-brown pendent twigs. The leaves are 6-10 cm long and can be up to 3 cm wide, linear or lanceolate, with a single vein. Used as an ornamental plant and for soil stabilization.
Four-Seasons Wattle - Mimosa des Quatre Saisons
| Acacia retinodes |
This mimosa grows to 10 m, with smooth brown twigs. The leaves are 6-15 cm long, linear or lanceolate, straight and pale green, similar to willow leaves. The flowers are pale yellow balls of 4-6 mm, in bunches of 5-10, and only slightly fragrant. Because they grow well in most soils and blossom year-round, the four-seasons is planted widely in parks and gardens.
