Wild green-hair tree
Parkinsonia africana
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It can grow up to 6 m tall. The branches are smooth and flexible. The young branches are bright yellow-green and armed with spines. The tree is normally leafless. Only the midribs of the leaves cling to the tree. When leaflets are present they are narrow and arranged in 8-10 opposite pairs. The flowers are small and yellow. They occur in bunches in the axils of leaf stalks and at the ends of branches. The pods are 10-15 cm long. They are reddish brown and compressed between the seeds. There are about 8 seeds per pod and they are oblong and shiny.
It can become invasive. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows on sandy plains in arid areas. It grows in the desert in Namibia. It grows in stony and sandy soils. It grows between 100-1,350 m above sea level. In Costa Rica it occurs in dry lowland areas. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Central America, Costa Rica, Eswatini, Namibia, North America, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland
How it is used for food
The seeds are sometimes used for coffee. They are roasted, ground and boiled in water as coffee. They are sometimes added to coffee to improve the flavour. The fruit are used to prepare a drink. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Seeds - coffee, fruit - drinks, leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ehuu, Lemoendoring, Palo verde, Peulboom, Retamo