Acacia abyssinica Hochst. ex Benth.

Images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record

Photo: Rob Burrett
In garden, Sims Rd, Harare

Photo: Bart Wursten
By rd up towards Chinziwa

Photo: Mark Hyde
National Botanic Garden, Harare

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:	Nyanga flat-top (English)
Frequency:	Locally frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Flat-topped tree, to 16 m. Bark reddish-brown on older trees; pale yellowish-brown, peeling off in papery wads, on younger trees. Young twigs softly hairy. Thorns in straight pairs at nodes. Leaves: pinnae pairs 20-40; leaflets very small, up to 2(-4) × 0.75 mm. Inflorescence of white spherical heads. Involucel in lower half of peduncle. Pods dehiscent.
Notes:	Previously known as subsp. calophylla Brenan, this is no longer recognised (Timberlake, Fagg and Barnes, 1999). A. abyssinica can be confused with A. sieberiana var woodii, but A. sieberiana usually has fewer than 20 pairs of pinnae and larger leaflets (3-4 mm long), whereas the leaves of A. abyssinica usually have 20-40 pairs of pinnae and the leaflets are usually up to 2 mm long although some overlap occurs. Furthermore, in A. abyssinica the pinnae are relatively short so that the leaves appear long and narrow as may be seen in image number 6.
Derivation of specific name:	abyssinica: of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
Habitat:	Woodland and montane grassland; in Zimbabwe confined to the Eastern Highlands. Frequently planted in gardens in Harare.
Altitude range: (metres)	Above 1500 m
Flowering time:	Oct - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	From Ethiopia southwards to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique, but not occurring in Zambia or South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form:	T
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):	Axiocerses tjoane tjoane (Common scarlet)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 24 June 2012
Literature:	Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae FZ 3(1) Page 99. Coates Palgrave K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 273. (Includes a picture). Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999). Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare Pages 28 - 29. (Includes a picture).

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Other sources of information about Acacia abyssinica:

Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Acacia abyssinica page
Flora of Mozambique: Acacia abyssinica
African Plant Database: Acacia abyssinica
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Acacia abyssinica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acacia abyssinica
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Acacia abyssinica
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Acacia abyssinica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Acacia abyssinica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acacia abyssinica
JSTOR Plant Science: Acacia abyssinica
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Acacia abyssinica
Tropicos: Acacia abyssinica
West African Plants database: Acacia abyssinica