Vachellia seyal var. fistula (Schweinf.) Kyal. & Boatwr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 9 m high with usually flattened crown; young branchlets almost glabrous, epidermis reddish, conspicuously flaking off to expose a greyish or reddish powdery under-surface

Morphology General Bark

Bark mostly white or greenish yellow

Morphology General Spines

Some pairs of spines fused and inflated at base

Morphology Leaves

Pinnae 3–7 pairs; leaflets 11–20 pairs, 3–8 x 0.7–1.5 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bright yellow, in heads; involucel in lower half of peduncle, often subtending a few additional flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2–2.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 3.5–4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods ± falcate and constricted between the seeds, dehiscent, 7–20 x 0.5–0.9 cm, finely longitudinally veined, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds elliptic, compressed, 7–9 x 4.5–5 mm; areole 5–6 x 2.5–3.5 mm.

Distribution

N1 Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and southwards to Malawi and Mozambique.

Ecology

Altitude range c. 1150–1200 m.

Vernacular

Wadi (Somali)

Note

Previous records of Acacia seyal in central and southern Somalia seem all to be based on material of V. zanzibarica.