A very useful jam tree
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (351937)
Rockingham, Australia
April 26, 2025 11:58pm CST
I took this photo on the side of the road on our recent short holiday. The globule that you can see has oozed from a jam tree (Acacia acuminata). It’s one of the wattle tree variety but I found on researching it that it is/was an extremely useful tree.
The small tree is resistant to termites and was used a great deal for fence posts. Settlers regarded the occurrence of jam trees as indicative of soils suitable for crops and grazing. It is used as a host for sandalwood. The plant also has psychedelic properties if processed.
The aborigines made use of the plant for wood, food and medicine. The seeds were made into flour. This sap which has hardened on the bark can be used to make a varnish or polish. Vince’s Dad used it as a varnish on a little yacht he made for his sons.
18 people like this
16 responses
@DaddyEvil (146705)
• United States
27 Apr
@JudyEv You're welcome... I'm wondering what caused damage to the tree to cause the sap to leak, though. We see globules like that on some pine trees after the tree is damaged by wildlife clawing the trunk or a deer clearing "fuzz" from newly grown antlers.
I'm sure you don't know... My brain is just rattling around in my head right now. 
3 people like this
@JudyEv (351937)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Apr
@DaddyEvil I don't know how trees get this damage. Maybe it's insect damage. There are other eucalypts that 'weep' in this way.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (90080)
• Bangalore, India
27 Apr
That hardened ooze looks like a jam..I assume that that's why it's called Jam tree. Interesting name and interesting facts. Thank you for sharing.
2 people like this
@youless (113045)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Apr
It's my first time to hear about this tree. I looked up the word "Acacia acuminata" and I found it has an interesting Chinese word as "lovesick" So perhaps it is called Lovesick tree in Chinese? However, I haven't heard about this tree yet.
So perhaps it is called Lovesick tree in Chinese? However, I haven't heard about this tree yet.2 people like this
@allknowing (144759)
• India
27 Apr
In what way does it deserve to be called jam tree?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (351937)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Apr
It smells like raspberry jam. Its other names are raspberry jam, jam, jam wattle, jamwood, or raspberry wattle.
@JudyEv (351937)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Apr
I was surprised that it was so useful. It was very common in our area when I was growing up.
@Beestring (15283)
• Hong Kong
27 Apr
Thank you for the information. Why the tree calls jam tree?
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (163232)
• United States
28 Apr
WAs a better time when people used what was around them and did not have to deal with tariffs.
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@JudyEv (351937)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr
Yes, so true. I think each country should be as self-sufficient as possible.
@snowy22315 (188521)
• United States
29 Apr
@JudyEv Yeah, you know in the old days people had to work with what they had in hand
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@RebeccasFarm (94390)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Apr
What interesting info Judy!
Psychedelic is me
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@RebeccasFarm (94390)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Apr
@JudyEv Oh yes some people do that and make teas..I remember someone who used to do that and my then husband drank some..big mistake..lucky I didn't try it.
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@LeaPea2417 (37782)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Apr
That's very interesting. I never heard of that tree.
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@JudyEv (351937)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr
Jam trees were very common when I was growing up. I had no idea they had so many uses.
@JudyEv (351937)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Apr
Sandalwood is a semi-parasitic plant although you can buy seeds/a seedling from nurseries. But apparently without a host tree, they don't do very well. Sandalwood taps into the roots of nearby trees to obtain extra water and nutrients. I always thought the spores attached themselves to other trees but that may not be correct.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47783)
• India
27 Apr
That is such a useful Tree with multiple uses and indicators of soil suitability.
I believe this Jam would be totally different from the Jams that we apply on our Toasts
!
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