False umbrella thorn
Vachellia reficiens

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A bush or small tree. It can be 5 m high. It has spines which can be hooked or straight. They are in pairs in the axils of the leaves. They are 2-6 mm long. The bark is red brown and rough and becomes cracked when old. The leaves are compound. There are 2-9 pairs of stalks each bearing 5-11 pairs of very small leaflets. The flowers are white balls on slender stalks. They are 2-3 cm long. The fruit are short pods. They are red and 5-8 cm long by 0.6-1 cm wide. They are thinly woody and flat. There are 2 subspecies recognised.

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 on sandy soils and occasionally brackish soils. It can be on mountain slopes, dry riverbeds of stony flats. In East Africa it grows between 50-1,450 m altitude. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 15-400 mm. It can tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Uganda

How it is used for food

The bark curdles milk. The gum is eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Gum, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anywa, Eregae, Khansa, Panyarit, Qansax, Rooihaak

Synonyms

Acacia uncinata Engl.;