White thorn
Acacia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha

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. It is used in medicine. The leaves are used for fodder and in medicine. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It occurs in wooded grassland and in soil from rivers in river valleys. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The gum is used in confectionary.

Edible parts

Gum, seeds, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

African cachechu tree, Chikwiku, Chiugadzi, Falcon's claw acacia, Guvwa, Kalakhanga, Kobakova, M'rroca, Mekaja, Mgunga, Msukanzi, Mtopotopo, Mugone, Mukwakwa, Munanga, Musewa, White thorn-tree

Synonyms

Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd. var. campylacantha (A. Rich.) Aubrev.; Acacia campylacantha Hochst. ex A. Rich.; Acacia catechu (L. f.) Willd. subsp. suma (Roxb.) Roberty;