Leguminosae-mim Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd.

| |	© Chris W. Fagg

Keywords in this picture :

• Bark
• Vegetative
• Slash
• Woody stem
• Plant parts

Places where this species can be found :

• Sinsanbligbini Forest Reserve - NSBPGHANA

Species information

Interest
Provides a good fuel for brick kilns (Wickens et al. 1995). The wood is heavy (980-1060 kg/m3) and hard, the sapwood is off-white and heartwood very dark brown, close grained and seasons without defects. In South Africa it is used for fencing posts, and is said to be good for ornamental work. The Xhosa use the root wood for making long-stemmed tobacco pipes and the long whippy branches for basketry. The foliage and pods are considered good fodder for livestock and wildlife, and it is one of the first Acacia species to resprout with the rains. Black rhino browse and eat the stem and bark, and baboons eat flowers and seed (Timberlake et al. 1999, Wickens et al. 1995). An important honey source in southern Africa. The Zulus use a bark infusion for blood disorders.

Other Notes
Common names: S. Africa: Common Hook-thorn, Gewone Haakdoring (Afrikaans). Species characteristics : A shrub or tree to 14 m high, often with a rounded canopy. A very variable species over its southern african range, both in numbers of pinnae pairs and the development of hairs. Recently been found in Zimbabwe, the material corresponds with the larger leaflet form found in western Transvaal. Found in a range of sites from woodland on rocky hills and in dry river valley bush on shallow rocky soils, as well as sandy alluvium on river banks, and coastal scrub. Distribution: Botswana (South East, Kweneng, Southern, Kanye, Gaberones); Mozambique (Maputo); South Africa (Transvaal, Natal, Cape, Pretoria, Ubombo, Umtata, Port Shepstone, Harrismith, Letaba, Potgietersvast, Free); Swaziland (Hhohho, Stegi, Manzini, Lubombo, Shiselweni). Specimen total: 396 Degree squares: 49 Collection years: 1800-1994 Phenology: Flowering period: Jan(2), Apr(1), Jul(1), Aug(1), Sep(2), Oct(6), Nov(1), Dec(2); Fruiting period: Jan(2), Apr(1), Jun(1), Aug(1), Oct(2), Dec(1) Altitude range: 15-1725m

Specimen information

Collector
Fagg, C. W.

Specimen Number
016