Large-leafed acacia
Acacia amythethophylla

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 in dry soils. It grows in woodland. It grows between 600-1,830 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are used as a green vegetable.

Probably minor.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cifu, Kipunga

Synonyms

Acacia macrothyrsa Harms; Acacia prorsispinula Stapf; Acacia dalzielii Craib; Acacia buchananii Harms.;