Water acacia
Vachellia nebrownii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It has several stems. It loses its leaves during the year. It forms thickets. The stems are spiny. The spines are straight and white. It grows 1-8 m high. The bark is smooth and red and does not flake off. The leaves usually have 1 but occasionally 2-3 pairs of pinnae. These have 3-5 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are bright yellow and in round heads. The fruit are small pods that are curved and 5 cm long by 1 cm wide. The seeds are greenish brown.

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 can tolerate drought. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 150-200 mm. It grows between 550-1,435 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots provide a liquid used to quench thirst. The gum is palatable and nutritious.

The gum is eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Gum, root - water

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gomdoring, Kaldoring, K'ar, Lerwana, Omhalohela, Slapdoring, Usonge, Waterdoring, Water thorn

Synonyms

Acacia glandulifera Schinz; Acacia nebrownii Burtt Davy; Acacia rogersii Burtt Davy; Acacia walteri Suesseng.;