Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 21 m. high; trunk with fissured bark and knobby persistent prickles.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets pubescent or puberulous, rarely subglabrous, grey to brown.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules not spinescent.

Morphology General Prickles

Prickles in pairs just below each node, straw-coloured to brown or blackish, 4–12 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves:petiole glandular (gland usually 2–4 × 1.75–3 mm.); rhachis pubescent or puberulous, rarely subglabrous, glandular between the top 3–17 pairs of pinnae; pinnae (6–)13–40(–60) pairs; leaflets (15–)26–64 pairs, 2–5(–6) mm. long, 0.4–0.75(–1 .25) mm. wide, linear to linear-triangular, pubescent usually only on margins, only the midrib (except sometimes some very small basal nerves) visible, subacute to narrowly obtuse at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers cream or white, sessile or nearly so, in spikes (3.5–)6–12.5 cm. long, produced with the new leaves; axis densely pubescent or tomentellous; peduncle (0.5–) 1.2–2 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1.7–2.25 mm. long, pubescent or puberulous, rarely puberulous on lobes only or subglabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 2–3 mm. long, 5-lobed, usually 1⅓ times or more as long as calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen-filaments 4.5–6 mm. long; anthers 0.1 mm. across, with a caducous gland.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous; stipe very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (Fig. 14/12, p. 52) brown, dehiscent, glabrous or nearly so, rarely ± pubescent, oblong, straight, venose, usually acuminate at apex, 7–18 cm. long, 1–2.1 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subcircular to elliptic-lenticular, 8–9 mm. long, 7–8 mm. wide; central areole medium to small, 3–4 × 3–3.5 mm., not impressed.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Sudanian woodland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Tree

Leguminosae, J.P.M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 3:1. 1970

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 20(25) m. high, rarely shrubby; trunk with fissured bark and knobby persistent prickles; young branchlets pubescent or puberulous, rarely subglabrous, grey to brown.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules not spinescent.

Morphology General Prickles

Prickles in pairs just below each node, straw-coloured to brown or blackish, 4-12 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: petiole glandular (gland usually 2-5 x 1·75-3 mm.); rhachis pubescent or puberulous, rarely subglabrous, glandular between the top 3-17 pairs of pinnae; pinnae (6)13-40(60) pairs: leaflets (15)26-66 pairs, 2-5(6) x 0·4-0·75(1·25) mm., linear to linear-triangular, pubescent usually only on the margins, only the midrib (and sometimes some very small basal nerves) visible, subacute to narrowly obtuse at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers cream or white, sessile or nearly so, in spikes (3·5)6-12·5 cm. long, produced with the new leaves; axis densely pubescent or tomentellous; peduncle (0·5)1·2-2 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1·7-2·25 mm. long, pubescent or puberulous, rarely puberulous on the lobes only or subglabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 2-3 mm. long, 5-lobed, usually 11/3 times or more as long as the calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen-filaments 4·5-6 mm. long; anthers 0·1 mm. across, with a caducous gland.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous; stipe very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods brown, dehiscent, 7-18 x 1-2·1 cm., oblong, straight, venose, usually acuminate at the apex, glabrous or nearly so, rarely ± pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subcircular to elliptic-lenticular, 8-9 x 7-8 mm.; central areole medium to small, 3-4 x 3-3·5 mm., not impressed.