Common hook thorn
Senegalia caffra

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 14 m high. The crown is irregular and spreading. The trunk is often twisted. The bark is greyish-brown and smooth when young. It peels off in long strips. The branches have short, sharp, hooked thorns that occur in pairs. The leaves are bright green and droop. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are compound and feathery with many leaflets. The flowers are cream coloured spikes. The fruit are narrow, straight seed pods. The seeds are brown. They are small and flat.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows from the coast to the high veld grasslands. It can survive fire. It can tolerate frost and drought. In Indonesia it grows up to 2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Indonesia, Mozambique, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Plants are easy to grow from seeds. The seeds need hot water treatment before they will germinate. The hot water can simply be poured over them. They are best sown directly as the taproot limits transplanting.

Its other names

Local names

Cat thorn, Gewone haakdoring, Katdoring, Mbenyasehloka, Morulhare, Morutihatsane, Morutihatshana, Morutlhare, Morutlharsana, Morutlhatana, Moritilhware, Mositsane, Motholo, Muguhwa, Mukuka, Mupumpu, Ndhengha, Pohon akasia durikait, Tole, umTholo, Uhagabitsh, Umgamanzi, Umkaya, Umnga, Umtholo

Synonyms

Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.; Mimosa caffra Thunb.;