Vachellia horrida

Vachellia horrida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Vachellia
Species: V. horrida
Binomial name
Vachellia horrida
(L.) Kyal. & Boatwr.[1]
subspecies[2]
  • Vachellia horrida subsp. benadirensis (Chiov.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
  • Vachellia horrida subsp. horrida (L.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
Range of Vachellia horrida
Synonyms[3]
  • Acacia horrida (L.) Willd.
  • Acacia latronum (L.f.) Willd.
  • Mimosa horrida L.
  • Mimosa latronum L. f.

Vachellia horrida is a low spreading shrub or sometimes tree native to both the wet and dry scrublands of tropical to subtropical East Africa.[4] Common names for it are Cape Gum and Dev-Babul. It is also found elsewhere in Africa, Asia, India and South America.[3] It frequently has stipular spines 9.5 cm long.[4][5] V. horrida is an important browse plant in the tropics, particularly during the dry season.[6]

Uses

Vachellia horrida is used as forage for livestock, for its wood and for fuel.[7] Because of its huge thorns, it makes an excellent protective hedge. It used to be the most important tree for the tanning industry in South Africa, but extract from its bark leaves the leather with a rather bad smell. The tree produces good gum, but it is yellowish in color.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Kyalangalilwa B, Boatwright JS, Daru BH, Maurin O, van der Bank M. (2013). "Phylogenetic position and revised classification of Acacia s.l. (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in Africa, including new combinations in Vachellia and Senegalia.". Bot J Linn Soc 172 (4): 500–523. doi:10.1111/boj.12047.
  2. ↑ http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb/6.00/fam/f2.shtml
  3. 1 2 ILDIS LegumeWeb
  4. 1 2 Dharani, Najma (January 2006). Field Guide to Acacias of East Africa. Struik Publishers. ISBN 1-77007-174-1.
  5. 1 2 Google Books Select Extra-tropical Plants Readily Eligible for Industrial Culture Or Naturalization By Ferdinand von Mueller
  6. ↑ Getachew, G.; H. P. S. Makkar; K. Becker (2002). "Tropical browses: contents of phenolic compounds, in vitro gas production and stoichiometric relationship between short chain fatty acid and in vitro gas production". Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Cambridge University Press) 139: 341–352.
  7. ↑ Madras Naturalists' Society Archived April 6, 2007 at the Wayback Machine

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