Flat-top acacia
Acacia abyssinica

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 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 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 grows at the edge of highland forest in East Africa. It grows between 1,200-2,300 m altitude. It in best in areas with a temperature between 20-30°C and an annual rainfall between 450-1,200 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The gum is chewed especially by children.

Edible parts

Gum, resin

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or root suckers. Seeds can be put in a nursery and transplanted or sown where they are to grow. Damaged seeds can be separated from good seed by floating them off. Seeds can be stored in a cool dry place. Before planting seeds should be soaked in cold or hot water that is then allowed to cool. Young plants can be cut back and allowed to re-grow.

Plants grow at a medium rate.

Its other names

Local names

Grar, Laftoo, Mugaa, Munyinya, Njora rahisi

Synonyms

Acacia abyssinica subsp. abyssinica; Acacia xiphocarpa Benth.;