Whistling thorn, Ant-galled acacia
Acacia drepanolobium

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 woody grassland. It grows well on black cotton and clay soils. In East Africa it grows between 700-2,500 m altitude. It is usually on dry rocky hillsides. It is in areas with rainfall of 500-1,300 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

How it is used for food

The young green pods are eaten. The young galls are edible. The galls are soft and fleshy when fresh. They are dark green and bitter when young and turn reddish purple later and are then best eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, young pods, fruit, vegetable, galls

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Adugo, Black galled acacia, Dunga, Eiyellel, Eluai, Fulaay, Kiunga, Luai, Lunga, Mukuruit, Muruai, Muuga

Synonyms

Acacia formicarum Harms; Acacia lathouwersii Staner;