Candle acacia, Candle-pod acacia
Vachellia hebeclada

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 7 m high. It branches near ground level. It often forms thickets. The bark is dark grey. It is cracked along its length and flakes off. The small branches are covered with hairs. It has spines which can be straight or hooked. They can be up to 3.5 cm long. The leaves are compound. They have 2-9 pairs of leaf stalks each with 7-16 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are 2-7 mm long by 1-2 mm wide. They are small and feathery. The flowers are cream-white balls. The fruit is a hard woody pod. It is 4-15 cm long by 1.4-4 cm wide. It is straight and swollen and sausage like. It is covered with grey hairs. The pod has wrinkles and ridges spiralling around it. The pods stand upright. There are 3 subspecies.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. It is the host to a Terfezia sp. truffle. Also as Mimosaceae. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hot dry areas. It is sensitive to frost. It grows between 750-2,950 m above sea level. It can tolerate wind and drought. It grows in areas with a rainfall above 100 mm. It can tolerate a 6-11 month dry season. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and used as a coffee substitute. They are also roasted and ground and eaten. The pods are occasionally eaten. The gum is eaten as a snack.

The pods are a famine food.

Edible parts

Gum, pods, fruit, seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds are removed from the pod and have boiling water poured over them then left to soak for 24 hours. They are then planted in rich soil. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Chiwonza, Omutoka, Setshi

Synonyms

Acacia hebeclada DC.; Acacia stolonifera Burch.; Acacia stolonifera var. chobiensis O.B.Miller;