Acacia luederitzii var. retinens
(Sim) J. H. Ross & Brenan
Swollen-spined acacia
iNaturalist· cc-by-sa
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
iNaturalist· cc-by-sa
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
iNaturalist· cc-by-sa
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Description
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.
Edible Uses
The gum and fruit are edible.
Distribution
A Mediterranean and subtropical climate plant. It can grow in arid places.
Where It Grows
Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland,
Notes
There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Balloon thorn, Belly thorn, Lukhakho, Sibanbimphala
References (3)
- Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
- 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 26th April 2011]
- Van Wyck, B., & Van Wyck, P, 1997, Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik. p
