Prairie acacia, Fernleaf acacia
Acaciella angustissima

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 subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. It grows from sea level to 2,600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Belize, Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Africa, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The bark is used to make alcoholic drinks. The young pods are used as vegetable food.

Edible parts

Pods, vegetable, bark - drink, fruit, root - drink

How it is grown

It is useful for cutting back and using the mulch as a green manure for other crops and to enrich and protect the soil.

Its other names

Local names

Carboncillo, Framboyancillo, Timbe, Timbre, Whiteball acacia

Synonyms

Acacia angulosa Bertol.; Acacia angustissima (Miller) Kuntze; Acacia elegans M. Martens & Galeoti; Acacia filicina Willd.; Acacia filicioides (Cav.) Trel.; Acacia glabrata Schldl.; Acacia insignis M. Martens & Galeoti; Acacia pittieriana Standley; Acaciella angulosa (Bertol.) Britton & Rose; Acaciella costariciensis Britton & Rose; Acaciella holtonii Britton & Killip; Acaciella martensis Britton & Killip; Acaciella rensonii Britton & Rose; Acaciella santanderensis Britton & Killip; Mimosa angustissima Miller; Mimosa filicioides Cav.; Mimosa ptericina Poiret;