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Australian acacia spp.: The genus Acacia (family Fabaceae) is a large genus of more than 1200 trees and shrubs which are widely distributed throughout the world, with more than 700 species indigenous to Australia. The Australian species had multiple medicinal uses by indigenous Australians, including use to treat diarrhoea and hyperglycemia4 and as a general antiseptic agent.5-7 Many Acacia spp. have also been reported to have amtimicrobial, molluskicidal, antihypertensive and platelet aggregatory activities.4 Recent studies have reported that Australian8,9 and South African Acacia spp.10,11 inhibit some bacterial triggers of the autoimmune inflammatory diseases rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Furthermore, several Acacia spp. inhibit the growth of food spoilage bacteria and therefore are useful as natural preservatives.7,12 This photograph was taken in Toohey Forrest, Queensland, Australia by Dr. Ian Cock in 2016.