Bullhorn acacia
Vachellia cornigera

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 5-15 cm long. 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 6-10 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. 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 tropical plant. It can grow in arid places. It grows between 100-900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Belize, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Nicaragua, North America, Pakistan, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The stems are used as a vegetable. The pulp of the pod is eaten.

The fruit pods are eaten by children. Pods are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Stems, fruit, pods, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Cornixuela, Cornizuelo, Ixcanal, Pico de Gorrion, Pohon akasia tanduk kerbau

Synonyms

Acacia campechiana Schenck; Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd.; Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd. var. americana DC.; Acacia cubensis Schenck; Acacia furcella Saff.; Acacia hernandezii Saff.; Acacia interjecta Schenck; Acacia nicoyensis Schenck; Acacia rossiana Schenck; Acacia spadicigera Schldl. & Cham.; Acacia turgida Saff.; Inga cornigera (L.) Ham.; Mimosa cornigera L.; Tauroceras cornigerum (L.) Britton & Rose; Tauroceras spadicigerum (Schldl. & Cham.) Britton & Rose;