Grey camel thorn
Vachellia haematoxylon

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows to 6 m high. The bark is grey-brown. The leaves are compound. They have 15-27 pairs if leaflets each with very small leaflets along them. These are so fine they look like teeth. The leaves are densely covered with fine grey hairs. The flowers are in yellow balls. The fruit are long slender pods. These are up to 14 cm long by 1.3 cm wide. They are curved and densely grey and velvety. They are slightly constricted between the seeds.

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in desert and semidesert regions. It occurs on deep red sandy soil. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The resin or gum from the tree is edible. The pod wall of the fruit is edible.

Edible parts

Pods, fruit, gum

How it is grown

It is not easy to cultivate.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Acacia haematoxylon Willd.;