Vachellia tortilis subsp. heteracantha

(Burch.) Kyal. & Boatwr.

Umbrella thorn

Fabaceae Edible: Gum, Bark, Leaves, Fruit 4,351 iNaturalist observations

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Luc Strydom

gbif· cc-by-nc

Luc Strydom

gbif· cc-by-nc

Luc Strydom

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Vachellia tortilis, widely known as Acacia tortilis but now attributed to the genus Vachellia in the Fabaceae subfamily Mimosoideae, is the umbrella thorn acacia, also known as umbrella thorn and Israeli babool, a medium to large canopied tree native to most of Africa, primarily to the savanna and Sahel of Africa (especially the Somali peninsula and Sudan), but also occurring in the Middle East.

Description

A shrub or tree. It grows 1-20 m tall. It is small and thorny and has a flat top. The thorns are straight and stout. They are white and can be 7 cm long. These can be replaced by short sharp hooks. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are 3 cm long with up to 10 pairs of pinnae and 20 pairs of leaflets. These are 2 mm long by 0.5 mm wide. The flowers are in small groups. They are round and 8 mm across. The flowers are white. The fruit are much twisted. They are 8 cm long, but twisted.

Edible Uses

The gum is eaten, especially by children. The fruit pods have seeds removed and the pulp is boiled with milk, blood, or water to make an edible porridge, sometimes with added corn. The pods are eaten as a snack.

Traditional Uses

The gum is eaten. The fruit pods have the seeds removed and the pulp is boiled with milk, blood or water to make an edible porridge. Corn can be added. The pods are eaten as a snack.

Distribution

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is tolerant of drought. It is resistant to frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 150 mm. It grow between 30-1,600 m above sea level. It can grow on alkaline soils. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds are removed from the pod and have boiling water poured over them then allowed to soak overnight. They are then planted in fertile soil.

Production

It grows at a medium rate.

Other Information

The gum is eaten especially by children.

Notes

There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.

Synonyms

Acacia heteracantha BurchellAcacia likatunensis BurchellAcacia maras Engl.Acacia spirocarpoides Engl.

Also Known As

Ingoka, Isanqawe, Lisasa, Makoka, Mosu, Munga, Musu, Muswu, Muungakhanga, Narab, Naras, Sessana, Siriri, Sitfetfe, Tafelboom, Umgamba, Umlaladwayi, Umsasane, Unsasane, Withaakdoring

References (12)

Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 200
Kew Bull. 13:409. 1959
Magwede, K., van Wyk, B.-E., & van Wyk, A. E., 2019, An inventory of Vhavenḓa useful plants. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 57–89
Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 2. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 700
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 128

Show all 12 references

Roodt, V., 1998, Trees & Shrubs of the Okavango Delta. Medicinal Uses and Nutritional value. The Shell Field Guide Series: Part 1. Shell Botswana. p 177
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 27th April 2011]
Story, 1958,
Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
Van Damme, P et al, 1922, Plant Uses by the Topnaar of the Kuiseb Valley Namib Desert. Afrika Focus Vol. 8(3-4):223-252
Venter, F & J., 2009, Making the most of Indigenous Trees. Briza. p 32
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011