Peltophorum africanum leaves resemble those of the South African thorn trees. No longer called Acacia, but Vachellia or Senegalia, depending on flowers clustering in spheres or catkins; many of them also flower yellow like P. africanum.

But the African-wattle or P. africanum has no spines like the local thorn trees. The indigenous wattles of Australia, some still called Acacia, mostly lack spines or thorns. Their versions of this broad subfamily of Fabaceae trees don’t have to defend themselves against browsing antelopes as in Africa. Kangaroos don’t threaten the photosynthesis of their Acacia trees... the Gondwanaland days are over.

So you may touch the soft African-wattle leaves without restraint and rub the leaves against your skin should the need arise. Just don’t confuse it with one of the local thorn trees when you do!

National Geographic says toilet paper wipes out 27 000 trees on earth every day; using leaves directly for this purpose happens only in emergencies in the First World (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Wikipedia; www.nationalgeographic.com).