Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile
subsp. kraussiana (Vatke) Brenan

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Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Osborne Dam RP

Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana

Photo: Mark Hyde
Near carpark, Hillside Dam, Bulawayo

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

Synonyms: Acacia benthamii Rochebr.
Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H. Hurter & Mabb. subsp. kraussiana (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
Common names: Isanqawe (Ndebele) Mubayamhondoro (Shona) Muhunga (Shona) Muzunga (Shona) Scented-thorn (English) Umlaladwayi (Ndebele)
Frequency: Common
Status: Native
Description:
Small to medium-sized tree. Bark dark brown to almost black, deeply fissured in older specimens. Thorns in pairs, straight, often typically pointing backwards. Leaves compound with 4-8 pinnae. Flowers in spherical heads on the new growth, yellow. Pods distinctive, constricted between the seeds, green when young, turning black when ripe, indehiscent. Old pods often still on the tree when the new pods appear.
Notes: This species is similar to Acacia karroo. It can easily be distinguished by the distinctive pods. When no pods are present, the slightly deflexed thorns and the small, closely spaced leaflets may aid identification.
Derivation of specific name: nilotica: from the valley of the Nile
Habitat: In a wide variety of habitats, often as a pioneer in disturbed areas.
Altitude range: (metres) Up to 1500 m
Flowering time:Oct - Jan
Worldwide distribution: (this subsp.) Angola, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species: Charaxes zoolina zoolina (Food plant)
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Saturday 11 February 2006
Literature:

Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 96 - 99. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 191. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. As Acacia nilotica

Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 170 - 171. as Acacia nilotica (Includes a picture).

Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 214.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 241.

Mannheimer, C. & Curtis B. (2009). Le Roux and Müller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia Macmillan Education, Windhoek, Namibia. Pages 112 - 113. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 44.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 60.

Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 26.

Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 12. as Acacia benthamii

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 92.

Timberlake, J., Fagg, C. & Barnes, R. (1999). Field Guide to the Acacias of Zimbabwe CBC Publishing, Harare Pages 94 - 97. (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana
Flora of Caprivi: Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana
Flora of Malawi: Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana
Flora of Mozambique: Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana
Flora of Zambia: Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana

External websites:

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


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: Species information: Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=126080, retrieved 28 March 2024

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