Kalahari-sand acacia
Vachellia luederitzii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-15 m high. The roots have an unpleasant smell. The young branches are covered with pale grey hairs. The spines are usually in pairs and long and straight. The leaves are 6 cm long by 4 cm wide with 5-8 pairs of leaflet stalks with small fine, hairy leaflets. The flowers are in round heads. They are creamy white. The fruit is a pod 13 cm long by 2 cm wide. It is usually flat and straight. It is stiff but not woody. It has a thick rim.

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 hot arid areas. It can tolerate frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 300-600 mm. It grows in sands and clays and is often over limestone materials. It grows between 48-1,650 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seed are eaten raw. The fruit are eaten as a snack. The gum is edible but not often collected.

Edible parts

Seeds, gum, fruit

How it is grown

It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It grows at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Acacia gillettiae Burtt Davy; Acacia goeringii Schinz; Acacia luederitzii Engl.; Acacia retinens Sim;