Vachellia tortilis

Vachellia tortilis, widely known as Acacia tortilis but now attributed to the genus Vachellia,[3] is the umbrella thorn acacia, also known as umbrella thorn and Israeli babool,[4] a medium to large canopied tree native to most of Africa, primarily to the savanna and Sahel of Africa (especially the Somali peninsula and Sudan), but also occurring in the Middle East.

Umbrella thorn acacia
Specimen of the nominate subspecies in Serengeti National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Vachellia
Species:
V. tortilis
Binomial name
Vachellia tortilis
(Forssk.) Galasso & Banfi[1]
Subspecies and varieties[2]
  • Vachellia tortilis subsp. heteracantha (Burch.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
  • Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana (Savi) Kyal. & Boatwr.
    • var. pubescens (A.Chev.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
    • var. raddiana (Savi) Kyal. & Boatwr.
  • Vachellia tortilis subsp. spirocarpa (Hochst. ex. A.Rich.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
    • var. crinita (Chiov.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
    • var. spirocarpa (Hochst. ex. A.Rich.) Kyal. & Boatwr.
  • Vachellia tortilis subsp. tortilis (Forssk.) Galasso & Banfi
Range of Vachellia tortilis
Synonyms
  • Acacia raddiana Savi
  • Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne
  • Mimosa tortilis Forssk.
  • Vachellia tortilis (Forssk.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb.

Distribution and growing conditions

Vachellia tortilis tends to grow in areas where temperatures vary from 0 to 50 degrees Celsius and rainfall is anywhere from about 100–1,000 mm (3.9–39.4 in) per year.[5]

Characteristics

In extremely arid conditions, it may occur as a small, wiry bush. It grows up to 21 m (69 ft) in height.[6] The tree carries leaves that grow to approx. 2.5 cm (1 in) in length with between 4 and 10 pair of pinnae each with up to 15 pairs of leaflets. Flowers are small and white, highly aromatic, and occur in tight clusters. Seeds are produced in pods which are flat and coiled into a springlike structure.

The plant is known to tolerate high alkalinity, drought, high temperatures, sandy & stony soils, strongly sloped rooting surfaces and sandblasting. Also, plants older than 2 years have been observed to be somewhat frost resistant.

Importance

Timber from the tree is used for furniture, wagon wheels, fence posts, cages, and pens. Vachellia wood was also used exclusively by the Israelites in the Old Testament in the building of the tabernacle and the tabernacle furniture, including the Ark of the Covenant. The pods and foliage, which grow prolifically on the tree, are used as fodder for desert grazing animals. The bark is often used as a string medium in Tanganyika, and is a source for tannin. Gum from the tree is edible and can be used as Gum Arabic. Parts of the tree including roots, shoots, and pods are also often used by natives for a vast number of purposes including decorations, weapons, tools, and medicines.[7]

The Umbrella thorn is also an important species for rehabilitation of degraded arid land; it tolerates drought, wind, salinity and a wide range of soil types, and has the additional benefit of fixing nitrogen - an essential plant nutrient - in the soil via its interaction with symbiotic root bacteria.

  • The pods are curled.
  • It has a combination of paired straight and paired hooked thorns, from which the Afrikaans name derives, meaning "hook and prick".
  • The southern subspecies heteracantha, here seen in flower, is smaller and often without a spreading crown.

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. ILDIS Legumes of the World
  3. XVIII International Botanical Congress, 23–30 July 2011, Melbourne Australia
  4. Vachellia tortilis (as Acacia tortilis (Forsk.) Hayne), Purdue University, December 1997.
  5. "handbook on seeds of dry-zone acacias". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  6. World Agroforestry Centre
  7. "Acacia tortilis". www.hort.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
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