3446.000 Acacia Mill. - Thorn trees

SENEGALIA Raf.

VACHELLIA Wight & Arn.

Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999) Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare

Description of the genus

Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing, armed with thorns (native species) or unarmed (introduced species). Leaves alternate, 2-pinnate or (in some introduced spp.) modified to phyllodes and thus appearing to have simple leaves. Pinnae opposite, subopposite, sometimes alternate. Gland usually present on the upper side of the petiole, sometimes also glands on the rhachis. Inflorescences usually axillary, racemose or paniculate; flowers in elongated spikes or spherical heads, bisexual or unisexual. Calyx gamosepalous, subtruncate or with 4-5 lobes. Corolla 4-5(-7)-lobed. Stamens numerous. Anthers glandular or eglandular. Pod very variable, dehiscent or indehiscent. An important genus, occurring commonly in a wide range of habitats. A careful distinction should be made between the stipules which in some species are modified into straight spines arising from near the leaf base and prickles, which are usually curved and are usually found near the nodes but may occur along the stems. Some acacias, especially older trees, may be unarmed, which can be very puzzling. It is recommended that a careful search is made of the tree (if possible) or of similar trees in the area. An important general rule with acacias is that those with straight spines (stipules) have flowers in spherical heads and those with curved prickles have flowers in spikes. The exceptions are: Faidherbia albida has straight spines and flowers in spikes. Acacia mellifera has curved prickles but the flower spike is so short as to appear almost spherical. Acacia schweinfurthii has curved prickles and flowers in spherical heads. Acacia tortilis has both curved prickles and straight spiny stipules and flowers in spherical heads.

Worldwide: 1200 species in tropical and warm areas, many in Australia

Zimbabwe: 35 cultivated taxa.

Insects associated with this genus:
Azanus jesous (Topaz-spotted blue) Food plant
Cirina forda (Emperor moth) Food plant
Cyligramma latona (Cream-striped owl) Food plant
Hippotion celerio (Silver-striped hawk, Vine hawk) Food plant
Sphingomorpha chlorea (Sundowner moth or Banana hawk) Food plant
Acacia podalyriifolia

Links to cultivated taxa    View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesContent
abyssinica Hochst. ex Benth.Description, Image
alata R. Br.
amythethophylla Steud. ex A. Rich.Description, Image
angustissima (Mill.) KuntzeDescription, Image
baileyana F. Muell.
cornigera (L.) Willd.
cultriformis A. Cunn. ex G. Don
cyclops A. Cunn. ex G. Don
dealbata LinkDescription, Image
decurrens (Wendl.) Willd.
drepanolobium Harms ex Y. Sjöstedt
elata A. Cunn. ex Benth.
farnesiana (L.) Willd.
galpinii Burtt DavyDescription, Image
karroo HayneDescription, Image
longifolia (Andrews) Willd.
mearnsii De Wild.Description, Image
melanoxylon R. Br.Description, Image
natalitia E. Mey.
nigrescens Oliv.Description, Image
nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan
nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile subsp. kraussiana (Vatke) BrenanDescription, Image
pendula G. Don
podalyriifolia A. Cunn. ex G. DonDescription, Image
polyacantha Willd. subsp. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) BrenanDescription, Image
prominens A. Cunn. ex G. Don
retinodes Schltdl.
salicina Lindl.
saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl.
schinoides Benth.
schweinfurthii Brenan & ExellDescription, Image
sieberiana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay & BrenanDescription, Image
tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne[Agg]
xanthophloea Benth.Description, Image
xanthophloea form with creamy-white flowersDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Acacia:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Acacia
Flora of Caprivi: Acacia
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Acacia
Flora of Malawi: Acacia
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Acacia
Flora of Mozambique: Acacia
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Acacia
Flora of Zambia: Acacia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acacia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acacia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acacia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acacia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acacia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acacia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acacia
JSTOR Plant Science: Acacia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acacia
Plants of the World Online: Acacia
Tropicos: Acacia
Wikipedia: Acacia

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Cultivated plants: genus page: Acacia.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/genus.php?genus_id=667, retrieved 19 March 2024

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