Leguminosae-mim Acacia reficiens ssp. Wawra misera (Vatke) Brenan

Keywords in this picture :

Flower
Flower part
Flower & fruit
Plant parts

Species information

Interest
It is the preferred fuelwood for breadmaking in Somalia. Wood properties unrecorded, but has been used as thorny fences for livestock pens (bomas) and protecting cultivated land in Kenya. In Somalia it is browsed by camels and goats. Produces an edible gum. In Kenya the Mbeere use bark fibres for making baskets and clothing, and in Somalia the flexible roots are used for making the hoops of nomadic huts (Wickens et al. 1995).

Other Notes
Species characteristics : Grows into an obconical shrub, often multistemmed, or a tree to about 6 m high. Occurs in semi desert or dry scrub. It is divided into two subspecies which have a very disjunct distributional pattern. The subspecies are distinguished by length of peduncles and pods but these characters do overlap. Subspecies reficiens is closely related to A. luederitzii, and is used for a wide range of uses from browse (camels and goats) fencing, fibre and an edible gum. It can also become weedy. Subspecies misera is closely related to Acacia etbaica, and in south West Africa is also used for browse. Often found on rocky red brown soils. Common names: Kenya: Anywa (Pokot), Anywa (Turkana), Arekayan (Turkana), Echhorrai (Samburu), Eragai (Turkana), Eregae (Turkana), Eregai (Turkana), Khansa (Somali), Panyarit (Pokot), Sigirso (Boran), Sirgiso (Boran); Somalia: Damal (Somali), Ghansa (Somali), Khansa (Somali). Distribution: Ethiopia (Sidamo, SW); Kenya (Turkana, Rift valley, Coast, Northern Frontier, Garissa, West Pokot, Kitui, Taita, Maralal, Samburu, Meru, Mandera, West Suk, Baringo, Wajir, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Marsabit, Bomet); Somalia (Galguduud, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sanaag, Jubbada hoose, Bay, Bari, Gedo, Jubbada Dhexe, Togdheer, Northern, Qardho, N); Sudan (S, Al Istiw'a'iyah); Uganda (Karamoja, Lango). Specimen total: 128 Degree squares: 47 Collection years: 1875-1990 Phenology: Flowering period: Jan(2), Feb(1), Mar(1), Apr(1), May(2), Jun(1), Jul(3), Aug(13), Sep(7), Oct(5), Nov(4); Fruiting period: Jan(11), Feb(6), Mar(4), May(12), Jun(7), Jul(7), Aug(7), Sep(3), Oct(11), Nov(5), Dec(5) Altitude range: 30- (201-1000) -1425m

Specimen information

Collector
PS

Specimen Number
s.n.