Umbrella thorn
Vachellia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 3-20 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. It is spiny. The leaves have 3-10 pairs of pinnae with 7-15 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are creamy-white. In this subspecies the pods are curved or coiled and hairy. They are yellow brown. 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 hot arid places with a marked dry season. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 150 mm. It can grow in alkaline soils. It grows between 520-1,275 m above sea level. It can tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Djibouti, East Africa, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, North Africa, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The bark is chewed to relieve thirst. The pods are eaten after the seeds have been removed. The seeds are occasionally eaten.

The sweet ripe pods are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Seeds, bark, leaves, fruit

How it is grown

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Chirimrii, Etirir, Ew, Mezunga, Mnozwa, Mulamba, Nchongwe

Synonyms

Acacia pappii Gand.; Acacia petersiana Bolle; Acacia spirocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich.; Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne f. spirocarpa Roberty;