Black monkey thorn
Senegalia burkei

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can grow 3-27 m high. It has strongly hooked thorns. They are in pairs. The leaves have 3-5 pairs of leaflet stalks with 4-10 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are in white spikes. The pods are flat and straight. They have obvious veins. The pods are 8-12 cm long.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in sandy soils and hot dry woodland. It grows up to 400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Gum

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Micaia, Mokgwa, Mokoba, Mokotokoto, Mukaya, Tsene

Synonyms

Acacia burkei Benth.;