Vachellia arenaria (Schinz) Kyal. & Boatwr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 2–9 m. high, with very short bole, branching near ground; bark on bole dark and rough.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets with short inconspicuous puberulence or pubescence, purplish, soon going grey or sometimes brownish, zig-zag, their epidermis not peeling or flaking away.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules spinescent, to 6 cm. long, never inflated; other prickles absent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with inconspicuous, dull pubescence; petiole 4–14 mm. long; rhachis (5–)10–21 cm. long; pinnae of well-developed leaves of mature shoots 15–35 pairs (reduced leaves with fewer pairs sometimes also present), 0.7–2.2(–3) cm. long; leaflets 1.5–4.5 mm. long, 0.7–1 mm. wide, glabrous or ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white or pale pink, in heads; involucel at or above middle or at apex of the pubescent and glandular peduncle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla glabrous outside, 2–3 times as long as calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (Fig. 17/55, p. 68) dehiscent, arcuate, glabrous and deep red-brown outside, flat or slightly constricted between the seeds, 8–18(–22) cm. long, 0.5–0.8 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds olive-grey, smooth, quadrate or oblong, compressed, 7–9 mm. long, 3–4.5 mm. wide; areole 3.5–4.5 mm. long, 1.5–2.25 mm. wide.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland and woodland; locally common in transition between sandy alluvial soil and grey hard-pan (T.T.C.L.: 337); 1220–1520 m.

Distribution

T2 T4 T5 and South West Africa

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Zambezian bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 1.2-9 m. high, with a very short bole, branching near the ground; bark on bole dark and rough; branchlets with short inconspicuous puberulence or pubescence, purplish to brownish, soon going grey or sometimes brownish, zig-zag, their epidermis not peeling or flaking away.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules spinescent, to 6 cm. long, divergent, slender, straight, never inflated, other prickles absent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with inconspicuous dull pubescence, petiole 3-14 mm. long, rhachis (5)10-21 cm. long; pinnae of well-developed leaves of mature shoots 15-35 pairs (reduced leaves with fewer pairs sometimes also present), 0.7-2.2(3) cm. long, leaflets 1-5 x (0.5)0.7-1 mm., glabrous or ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white or pale pink, in heads, involucel at or above the middle or at the apex of the pubescent and glandular peduncle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 2-4 times as long as the calyx, glabrous outside Pods dehiscent, 8-18(22) x 0.5-0.8 cm., arcuate, glabrous to slightly pubescent and glandular, deep-red-brown outside, flat or slightly constricted between the seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds olive-grey, 7-9 x 3-5 mm., smooth, quadrate or oblong, compressed, areole 3.5-4.5 x 1.5-2.25 mm.