Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, armed with spines terminating short lateral twigs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (2–)4–19 pairs of pinnae; rhachis including petiole 0.5–20 cm long; leaflets (6–)9–41 pairs per pinna, linear to oblong, 1–11 x 0.3–4 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences yellow in upper bisexual part, mauve, pink or white in neuter part, 2–5 cm long, pendent; peduncle 1–9 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 0.6–1.25 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 1.5–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes

Staminodes 4–17 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods clustered, 2–10 x 0.4–1.4(–2) cm, contorted, indehiscent.

Distribution

N1; C2; S1–3 widespread in tropical Africa, also in Arabia, tropical Asia and Australia.

Ecology

Altitude range 30–1300 m.

Vernacular

Dictar, dhiigtaar, godxantool, qurac (Somali)

Note

This variable species was subdivided into numerous subspecies and varieties by Brenan & Brummitt in Bol. Soc. Brot., ser. 2, 39: 77–115 (1965). One of these, subsp. argillicola with only 4–7 pairs of pinnae and not strongly coiled pods, was described with the type from Somalia. Today a much wider variation is known in Somalia and the application of the infraspecific names available is very difficult. The species is therefore here not formally subdivided.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164134/20066865

Conservation

LC - least concern

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 1–8(–12) m. high, sometimes suckering and thicket-forming or (fide Greenway) even scandent, with rough bark and armed with spines terminating short lateral spreading twigs which often bear leaves and flowers.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets ± pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (2–)5–19(–21 fide F.C.B.) pairs of pinnae; rhachis (with petiole) 0.5–20 cm. long, with one stalked gland between each pair of pinnae; leaflets 9–41 pairs, 1–11 (–14) mm. long, 0.3–4(–5.5) mm. wide, linear to oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences yellow in apical hermaphrodite part, mauve, pink or sometimes white in lower neuter part, 2–5 cm. long, pendent on solitary or apparently fascicled peduncles 1–9 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 0.6–1.25 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 1.5–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen-filaments of hermaphrodite flowers 3.25–3.5 mm. long; staminodes 4–17 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2–10 cm. long, 0.5–2(–2–5 fide F.C.B.) cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 4–6 mm. long, 3–4.5 mm. wide, deep brown, glossy.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian bushland and thicket, Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; bushland and thicket., Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Zambezian woodland, Sudanian wooded grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Acacia Saint Dominique, Aroma, Marabu