Acacia edgeworthii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 10-477 mm per year. It grows on dry, stony and sandy soils. They can be alkaline. It grows between 30-690 m above sea level. It cannot tolerate frost. It grows best in areas with an annual temperature between 23°-30° C. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Middle East, Qatar, Socotra, Somalia, Yemen

How it is used for food

The pods are eaten for the gum. The nearly ripe fruit are eaten cooked or raw.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, gum

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cherin, Gulu, Jeerin, Jerin ad

Synonyms

Acacia erythraea Chiov.; Acacia humifusa Chiov.; Acacia pseudosocotrana Chiov.; Acacia socotrana Balf. f.; Acacia sultani Chiov.;